Abstract: A color image processing apparatus for digitally reading a color document and effecting digital printing comprises a character region extracting device for extracting a character region of the color document; a black portion extracting device for extracting a black portion of the color document; and a single black color processing device for processing a single black color only with respect to a region which falls within the character region and the black portion in the color document, so as to allow character portions to be distinguished favorably.

Abstract: A device is provided which detects image patterns which may cause photosensitive attacks, based on the contrast intensity and values of frequency bands having a peak value. A frame image constituting video is image analyzed for contrast intensity and spatial frequency, in the contrast detector and the peak seeker respectively.

Abstract: The present invention permits to determine an image characteristic amount for efficiently searching an image without affecting a bad influence upon searching accuracy. First image characteristic amount data is extracted. Second image characteristic amount data is extracted. Then, a distance between two image characteristic amount data is calculated. Further, the calculated distance is compared with a threshold value. If the distance is smaller than the threshold value, the image characteristic amount data having smaller number of coefficients which is advantageous because of smaller data amount is selected, and, if otherwise, the image characteristic amount data having greater number of coefficients is selected.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an image processing system capable of detecting at a high speed whether copy-protected information is embedded in image data. For this purpose, the image processing system that practices this invention uses image data having a low resolution in detecting the embedded position of the copy-protected information. When the position is detected, the neighboring image is extracted in units of blocks on the basis of the pattern size and compared with the pattern image. If a specific pattern is detected as the result of comparison, the image is regarded as an original to be copy-protected, and appropriate processing is executed.

Abstract: A waveform analysis unit divides digital data of a video signal stored in a Y memory and a C memory into small blocks, and conducts average value separation and normalization on each of the small blocks. A 1/f fluctuation measuring unit first derives a self-correlation function for each of the normalized small blocks, folds back the self-correlation function to the negative side, and conducts correction processing for making an average self-correlation function over a predetermined section equal to 0. Subsequently, the 1/f fluctuation measuring unit conducts Fourier transform on the corrected self-correlation function, derives a power spectrum, and conducts straight line approximation of the power spectrum. The 1/f fluctuation measuring unit then derives a fluctuation value of the power spectrum from the approximate straight line.

Abstract: Analysis of multi-spectral data for extraction of chlorophyll content. Multi-spectral data is obtained from an imaging device. The multi-spectral data contains spectral response data for chlorophyll and background data. The background data is removed from the multi-spectral data to isolate the spectral response due only to chlorophyll. This is then presented as a chlorophyll absorption feature which may be analyzed by measuring the width of the feature, the surface area of the feature, or measuring various angular changes of the feature. These measurements may than be used for a variety of purposes including plant health analysis.

Abstract: Preferably a sensor receives a print image from an authorized person to form a template, and from a candidate to form test data. Power spectral density (PSD) data for the template and candidate are compared, to read out rotation & dilation; these are used to adjust the template or candidate preparatory to a correlation to find translation. After applying the translation, and refinement of the rotation and dilation, normalized spatial correlation values (NSCVs) are used as a measure of quality of the match—and thresholded to make an early rejection or acceptance decision in very clear cases. Where the question is closer, isomorphic adjustment is applied to the entire template or candidate for a fairer comparison in their overlap area. Such comparison proceeds by the same type of PSD analysis—but for multiple subregions in the overlap area. Resulting NSCVs are averaged to obtain a measure of quality of the match, which again is thresholded for a final decision in the closer cases.

Abstract: A system and method for real time optical processing of images by simultaneous combining the variable set of images in selected spectral intervals. Spectral images at a plurality of spectral intervals are collected if needed. According to criteria established in a particular application, coefficients for an optimal combination of selected spectral intervals are calculated. Positive and negative images are continuously captured through the optical filter whose transmission spectrum adjusted to positive and negative coefficients of the optimal combination. Negative images are subtracted from positive images and a sequence of resulting optimized images is displayed in real time.

Abstract: In image processing according to the prior art, the important part of photographic image data (referred to herein as the object) could not be determined and therefore required human participation.

Abstract: A method of analyzing the low- and high-frequency components of a digital image comprising the steps of: providing a rectangular digital image; specifying the size of a rectangular kernel; partitioning the image into nine sub-regions; processing each of said sub-regions using a unique image processing algorithm; combining said processed sub-regions into a resulting image of the low frequency component and of the original image subtracting the low frequency component from the original image to obtain the high frequency component of said original image.

Abstract: A light image is conveyed from a biological tissue through a flexible optical system to an image receiver, where it is converted to a form which may be entered into a computer. The computer segments the image by generating a segmentation mask defining the boundary of a region of interest in at least one spectral band, estimates at least one rotationally and translationally invariant statistical measure of coefficient distributions of the multiscale wavelet maxima representations of the digital images in at least one spectral band, characterizes the condition of the tissue based on the estimated values, and outputs the characterization of the condition of the tissue.

Abstract: A method for detecting a synchronous signal contained in an input image signal is provided. In the method, horizontal and vertical periods are established during which horizontal and vertical synchronous signal pulses contained in the input image signal are counted, respectively. Then, minimum and maximum horizontal values which correspond to the horizontal synchronous signal pulses contained in the horizontal period are established, and minimum and maximum vertical values which correspond the vertical synchronous signal pulses contained in the vertical period are established. Afterwards, the horizontal and vertical synchronous signal pulses are counted during the horizontal and vertical periods to respectively obtain first and second counted values.

Abstract: The Intelligent Hypersensor Processing System (IHPS) is a system for the rapid detection of small, weak, or hidden objects, substances, or patterns embedded in complex backgrounds, providing fast adaptive processing for demixing and recognizing patterns or signatures in data provided by certain types of “hypersensors”. SERENE introduces an improved noise reduction algorithm useful on systems which use hypersensors such as IHPS, or other systems which use sensors which are hyper or multi spectral. The SERENE technique may be employed through out the Learning Module Processor pipelining and further processes the data stream to filter intrinsic and extrinsic noise, and minimize exemplar noise effects in the exemplar set. This system represents an alternative to prior systems for hidden object detection by solving the problems encountered when attempting to detect hidden objects/targets in dynamic scenarios at real-time.

Abstract: Surface defects in a reflection scan of a print made with visible light are corrected by using a scan of the print made with infrared light. This correction of surface defects is performed by controlling the intensity of defect detail in the infrared record by multiplying that defect detail by a gain. The gain varies for each region of the image as a function of the brightness of the image in that region. The gain approaches unity for white areas of the image, drops toward zero for darker areas, and approaches a small negative number for black areas of the image. The gain-multiplied defect detail is then subtracted from the visible image to create the corrected image free of the surface defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus matches texture patterns in a way that is invariant to the intensities, scales, and orientations of the texture patterns. The texture matching apparatus includes a texture feature extractor, a feature transformer, and an image ranker. The texture feature extractor identifies regions in a plurality of stored images that contain homogeneous texture patterns that may vary in intensities, scales, and orientations, and extracts N-component texture feature vectors in these regions. The feature transformer maps the N-component feature vectors into a D-dimensional texture space that is invariant to texture intensity, scale, and orientation. The image ranker ranks the images according to the similarity between the texture patterns that they contain and the query texture measured in the D-dimensional invariant texture space, and the similarity between the N-component feature vectors of the texture patterns.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for image reading or processing, that can precisely identify a particular pattern, such as of banknotes or securities of faithful copying of which is to be prohibited. The apparatus is provided with a detecting unit for detecting positional information of an original image, and a discriminating unit for extracting the pattern data of a certain part of the original image and discriminating whether the original image is the predetermined image, based on the similarity between the pattern data and the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A method of detecting a phase difference between a pair of images of an object which are formed on a pair of optical sensor arrays through different optical paths, with presence of flare in one of the images, is disclosed.

Abstract: A processing system and method identifies materials present in a pixel of a multispectral or a hyperspectral image. Underlying data models representing spectral endmembers or materials of interest and model based relationships are used to identify the materials. The processing system and method provide a technique that detects, unmixes, and classifies spectral signatures for terrain categorization and object identification.

Abstract: Surface defects in a reflection scan of a print made with visible light are corrected by using a scan of the print made with infrared light. This correction of surface defects is performed by controlling the intensity of defect detail in the infrared record by multiplying that defect detail by a gain. The gain varies for each region of the image as a function of the brightness of the image in that region. The gain approaches unity for white areas of the image, drops toward zero for darker areas, and approaches a small negative number for black areas of the image. The gain-multiplied defect detail is then subtracted from the visible image to create the corrected image free of the surface defects.

Abstract: A currency identification system has at least two laterally displaced scanheads, one or more laterally moveable scanheads, or at least two laterally displaced sensors of a linear scanhead, the scanheads or sensors being positioned so as to permit scanning along at least two segments on a first side of a bill. The scanheads or sensors are capable of detecting characteristic information from the bill along the segments and generating corresponding output signals representing variations in the detected characteristic information from which scanned patterns of characteristic information may be generated. At least one scanned pattern is generated from the output signals, the at least one scanned pattern representing analog variations in the characteristic information along a segment of the bill.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting fragments of titanium-based sponge on the basis of color is disclosed. The apparatus captures at least one color image of each fragment, inserts relevant color values from the image into an automated color-sorting system to determine the color of the fragment, and segregates the fragments according to color or range-of-color, by way of a physical segregation apparatus controlled by the color sorting system. The color sorting systems usually involve the conversion of color images from the fragments into color signals, which are in turn transformed into color values. The color images are usually represented by a pattern of pixels. The color values are automatically compared to values, which are part of a look-up table based on data sets, which embrace acceptable or rejectable color values. Comparison of color values determined for the fragments with those in the look-up table results in the acceptance or rejection of each fragment.

Abstract: The Intelligent Hypersensor Processing System (IHPS) is a system for the rapid detection of small, weak, or hidden objects, substances, or patterns embedded in complex backgrounds. providing fast adaptive processing for demixing and recognizing patterns or signatures in data provided by certain types of "hypersensors". This system represents an alternative to prior systems for hidden object detection by solving the problems encountered when attempting to detect hidden objects/targets in dynamic scenarios at real-time.IHPS accomplishes this by forming, a series of pattern vectors through the concatenation of the outputs of multiple sensors. Each sensor measures a different attribute of the system being observed, and has a consistent relationship to all the other sensors. The data stream form the sensors is entered into a processing system which employs a parallel-pipeline architecture. The data stream is simultaneously sent to two separate processor pipes.

Abstract: An imaging system produces an accurately colored representation of any desired land portion of the Earth's surface based on its measured red and near infra-red radiation. The land's image is composed of a set of pixels, each colored to represent the color of a corresponding area of the land. In the course of generating the image, the system classifies each area of the land based on scan data produced by satellites measuring red and near-infrared radiation from each area of the land. The system associates a color with each land class and colors the image pixel corresponding to each area of the land with the color associated with its class. The system allows an operator to supply input calibration data controlling the color associated with each class.

Abstract: In a template matching method, a region that has a plurality of normalized reference template images as vertex template images in a space of a template-pixel-size dimension is considered, and the vertex template images are linearly interpolated by a parameter w to provide a normalized interpolated template image of a magnitude 1 in the space. Then, matching between the normalized interpolated image and a search image is performed using a normalized correlation therebetween as a similarity measure, by which is obtained a parameter that provides the maximum normalized correlation value, and this normalized correlation value is determined as the maximum one.

Abstract: A technique for the enhancement of degraded document images to improve their display quality characteristics and image recognition accuracy. Images believed to be representative of the same symbol which occur in different positions over a image source (e.g., a facsimile page) are clustered together. Using the symbols within a particular cluster, an average character image outline for that cluster of symbols is derived and thereafter used to refine the matching of symbols within the cluster and to determine a final representative symbol for that cluster. The final representative symbols from the various resulting clusters are then used to replace all matching images throughout the image source. Advantageously, the display quality and recognition accuracy of the image source is enhanced after application of the present invention due to the resulting improvement of the images in the image source.

Abstract: A method for sorting fragments of titanium-based sponge on the basis of color is disclosed. The method involves the steps of capturing at least one color image of each fragment, inserting relevant color values from the image into an automated color-sorting system to determine the color of the fragment, and segregating the fragments according to color or range-of-color, by way of a physical segregation apparatus controlled by the color sorting system. A related apparatus for sorting moving fragments of titanium-based sponge on the basis of color is also described.

Abstract: The present invention has as an object thereof to provide an intelligent electronical system which conducts the real-time recognition of real world data and makes decisions with respect to the data; that is to say, a computing circuit having an instantaneous recognition function and instantaneous recognition method.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional reference image segmenting method and device, a two-dimensional image of a reference object and a shape data of a pattern obtained by transforming the image is stored together with depth data of the reference object in a memory as a reference pattern. On the basis of a local Fourier transform image date of an input image supplied from an image transform unit and the reference data of the reference pattern read out from the memory, a deform amount estimating unit calculates the amount of deform (displacement vector) required to make both the images coincident with each other to a possible extent. An inverse Fourier transform unit generates a deformed reference image by an local inverse Fourier transform based on the displacement vector and the data of the local Fourier transform image data of the reference pattern.

Abstract: In a DNA base sequencing, a consensus sequence is obtained by linking a plurality of DNA fragments obtained by a DNA sequencer, and a base sequence to be edited is determined in the consensus sequence. Then, a trace corresponding to the determined base sequence to be edited is identified among traces obtained by the DNA sequencer. The identified trace is displayed in correspondence with the base sequence to be edited. At this time, the base sequence to be edited is displayed so that an interval between bases becomes even.

Abstract: A method is described for the automatic recognition of at least one handwritten symbol. A representation of such symbol is provided, in a data storage medium, as a sequence of one or more discrete strokes having respective initial and final endpoints, a spatial location and a tangent angle being associated with each endpoint. Representations of plural library symbols, each a prototype of a possible class to which the input symbol may be assigned, are retrieved from a data storage medium. A comparison between the input-symbol representation and each of the retrieved library symbol representations includes comparing the respective tangent angles of the input symbol with the corresponding tangent angles of at least some of the library symbols, and comparing the respective endpoint locations of the input symbol with the corresponding endpoint locations of at least some of the library symbols.

Abstract: A currency identification system comprising at least two laterally displaced scanheads, one or more laterally moveable scanheads, or at least two laterally displaced sensors of a linear scanhead. The scanheads or sensors are positioned so as to permit scanning along at least two segments on a first side of a bill. The scanheads or sensors are capable of detecting characteristic information from the bill along the segments and generating corresponding output signals representing variations in the detected characteristic information from which scanned patterns of characteristic information may be generated. The system also comprises a pattern generator for generating at least one scanned pattern from the output signals, the scanned pattern representing analog variations in the characteristic information along a segment of the bill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical identification an unknown character from a plurality of known characters. Each of the known characters includes a predominant color and a nonpredominant color in preselected proportions. The unknown character has at least one geometric feature and a plurality of pixels including a predominant color and a nonpredominant color. The method and apparatus of the present invention include an examination of at least one geometric feature of the unknown character. A hypothetical identity for the unknown character is generated in response to the examination of at least one geometric feature of the unknown character. A portion of the plurality of pixels of the unknown character is sampled and a proportion between the predominant color and the nonpredominant color within the sampled portion of the plurality of pixels is determined from the sampled pixels.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus receives standardized video signal, and is capable of transmitting an original image signal read by a scanner and a standardized video image signal in a communication and also capable of easily and rapidly transmitting said video image signal together with the facsimile image.

Abstract: An embedded multi-bit signal is steganographically detected from empirical data, such as image or audio data, and some aspect of a related system's operation is controlled in accordance therewith. One application of the invention is a video playback or recording device that is controlled in accordance with the embedded multi-bit signal to limit playback or recording operations. Another is a photo-duplication kiosk that recognizes certain steganographic markings in an image being copied and interrupts the copying operation.

Abstract: A method of detecting counterfeit bills includes the steps of determining the denomination of the bill being evaluated, generating data corresponding to the concentration of magnetic ink on the bill and comparing this data to the expected concentration of magnetic ink on a genuine bill of the same denomination. The bill is considered genuine if the data is within an acceptable range of the expected value. An apparatus for detecting counterfeit currency employs a microprocessor to control an optical scanning operation of the bill being evaluated and to generate image data that is compared to stored images corresponding to genuine denominations of currency. The denomination of the bill is determined by evaluating the correspondence between the image data and the stored images.

Abstract: Color separation values such as CMYK values from an input device are transformed into characteristic parameter values by a first transforming device having a neural network which has undergone learning in advance in such a manner as to output characteristic parameter values obtained by multivariate analysis of spectral distributions which correspond to the color separation values and are illuminant-independent. These characteristic parameter values are subjected to a linear transformation by a second transforming device, the linear transformation having a constraint that calorimetric values under a specified illuminant are to be equal or another similar constraint, by using mean vectors and eigenvectors (principal component vectors) of predetermined spectral reflectances stored in a storage device.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first reading element for receiving visible light in reflected light from a color document and reading image data corresponding to the visible light as electric signals, and a second reading element for receiving infrared light in reflected light from the color document and reading image data corresponding to the infrared light as electric signals. The image reading apparatus thus reads the image data not only from the visible light but also from the infrared light. Consequently, the image reading apparatus is capable of reading a special distinguishing pattern of copy-prohibited printed matter printed with special ink, such as infrared absorbing ink, as well as ordinary image data, and thereby preventing counterfeiting of copy-prohibited printed matter.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus for digitally reading a color document and effecting digital printing comprises a character region extracting device for extracting a character region of the color document; a black portion extracting device for extracting a black portion of the color document; and a single black color processing device for processing a single black color only with respect to a region which falls within the character region and the black portion in the color document, so as to allow character portions to be distinguished favorably.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a judgment circuit for judging whether an input image is a monochrome image or a color image on the basis of an input image signal. In an image type judging mode, a judgment is made by that circuit. A copy of the input image is made based on the result of the judgment.

Abstract: An input image is enhanced to include spatial frequency components having frequencies higher than those in an input image. To this end, an edge map is generated from the input image using a high band pass filtering technique. An enhancing map is subsequently generated from the edge map, with the enhanced map having spatial frequencies exceeding an initial maximum spatial frequency of the input image. The enhanced map is generated by applying a non-linear operator to the edge map in a manner which preserves the phase transitions of the edges of the input image. The enhanced map is added to the input image to achieve a resulting image having spatial frequencies greater than those in the input image. Simplicity of computations and ease of implementation allow for image sharpening after enlargement and for real-time applications such as videophones, advanced definition television, zooming, and restoration of old motion pictures.

Abstract: Color crosstalk is determined between layers of an image storage medium based on the cross correlations and autocorrelations of noise in the grain pattern in each layer of the image storage medium. Rather than relying on prior measurement under laboratory conditions, the invention scans the storage medium in a plurality of spectral bands to derive the record stored in each of the dye layers. A computer derives the autocorrelations and the crosscorrelations of a group of pixels between the plurality of color records of the scanned images each of which corresponds to one of the spectral bands. The invention is based on the observation that as each dye layer is deposited separately in the film, one would expect that the "noise" from the grain boundaries in one layer to be independent from the "noise" due to the grain boundaries in other layers. If there is correlation in noise between separate color scans, it is because the scanner is measuring the grain boundaries in more than one layer in the color scans.

Abstract: A currency identification system comprising at least two laterally displaced scanheads, one or more laterally moveable scanheads, or at least two laterally displaced sensors of a linear scanhead. The scanheads or sensors are positioned so as to permit scanning along at least two segments on a first side of a bill. The scanheads or sensors are capable of detecting characteristic information from the bill along the segments and generating corresponding output signals representing variations in the detected characteristic information from which scanned patterns of characteristic information may be generated. The system also comprises a pattern generator for generating at least one scanned pattern from the output signals, the scanned pattern representing analog variations in the characteristic information along a segment of the bill.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: an input device for supplying color image information; a discrimination unit to discriminate whether the color image information includes a predetermined image or not in accordance with a color distribution of the color image information supplied by the input device; and a processing circuit to process the color image information in accordance with the result of the discrimination of the discriminating means. The color image information is constructed by a plurality of color component signals. The color distribution is a distribution of the color image information in a color space.

Abstract: A method for extracting a three-dimensional color vector from a three-dimensional color space in which correlated features are distributed includes steps of projecting the three-dimensional color space on a two-dimensional plane, displaying the two-dimensional plane on a display screen of a display, designating a line segment on the display screen by an input device, and executing the above steps at least two times by changing the angle of projection between the three-dimensional space and the two-dimensional plane to extract the color vector.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for image reading or processing, that can precisely identify a particularly pattern, such as of banknotes or securities faithful copying of which is to be prohibited. The apparatus is provided with a detecting unit for detecting positional information of an original image, and a discriminating unit for extracting the pattern data of a certain part of the original image and discriminating whether the original image is the predetermined image, based on the similarity between the pattern data and the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: In a method for producing geometric masks, a color image is displayed on a monitor. Color samples are taken from the image with a coordinate input unit and are deposited in a color sample memory. Color correction values that modify colors identified by the color samples can be input. A color computer serves the purpose of fast calculation of the color correction. For generating geometric masks, the color computer is loaded with an extreme value at the locations that are identified by the color samples. For that purpose, a table in the color computer is loaded with the extreme value at the corresponding location. The color image data are then applied to the color computer and the output data of the color computer are compared to a threshold. When the result is positive, a location in the mask memory is set. After all image pixels have been compared in this way to the thresholds, the mask memory contains a geometric mask at all locations that belong to the color samples.

Abstract: To detect a foaming contaminant in a moving container, an image of the moving container and any contents thereof is produced. Thereafter, image processing techniques are used to determine levels of low and high frequency spatial variations in intensity in the image. The levels of low and high frequency spatial variations in intensity are then compared to determine the presence of a foaming contaminant.

Abstract: Color crosstalk is determined between layers of an image storage medium based on the cross correlations and autocorrelations of noise in the grain pattern in each layer of the image storage medium. Rather than relying on prior measurement under laboratory conditions, the invention scans the storage medium in a plurality of spectral bands to derive the record stored in each of the dye layers. A computer derives the autocorrelations and the crosscorrelations of a group of pixels between the plurality of color records of the scanned images each of which corresponds to one of the spectral bands. The invention is based on the observation that as each dye layer is deposited separately in the film, one would expect that the "noise" from the grain boundaries in one layer to be independent from the "noise" due to the grain boundaries in other layers. If there is correlation in noise between separate color scans, it is because the scanner is measuring the grain boundaries in more than one layer in the color scans.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection and/or measurement of physical characteristics of a sample based on multi-dimensional phase-modulation fluorescence lifetime imaging using at least one fluorescent probe having known and/or variable fluorescent lifetimes.

Abstract: An area recognition apparatus is provided with a mark detecting device for detecting a mark portion drawn on an original document to designate a specific area, on the basis of image data read from an original document, crossing portion detecting device for detecting the portion where the mark portion crosses an image portion on the original document, on the basis of the image data, and a closed loop recognizing device for recognizing a closed loop formed by the mark portion and the crossing portion, on the basis of the results of detection by the mark portion detecting device and the crossing portion detecting device.