Abstract: The invention is directed to counting techniques for counting biological agents on a biological growth plate or similar medium. In order to automate the counting of biological agents, a biological growth plate is inserted into a biological scanning unit. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, the biological scanning unit generates an image of the plate. Then, the amount of biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can be counted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysis routines performed either by the scanning unit or an external computing device, such as a desktop computer, workstation or the like. A variety of counting rules are described herein that can be used to improve the accuracy of automated counts of biological agents on a biological growth plate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an image composed of an effective area as a meaningful area and an ineffective area as a remaining area, includes a left coordinate position detecting unit for detecting a coordinate position of a left-end pixel of pixels that are determined to be out of the ineffective area from among pixels arranged in a vertical line in the image by comparing a pixel value of each pixel with a first threshold value, a right coordinate position detecting unit for detecting a coordinate position of a right-end pixel of the pixels, an upper coordinate position detecting unit for detecting a coordinate position of an upper-end pixel of the pixels, and a lower coordinate position detecting unit for detecting a coordinate position of a lower-end pixel of the pixels.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for determining the velocity vector, speed, and direction of moving vehicles traveling on roadways which change elevation and have curves. A camera mounted above a roadway observes at least one vehicles traveling in different directions on different roads. Each pixel in the two-dimensional optical image is mapped into a three-dimensional real world location to enable the moving vehicles to be analyzed in the three-dimensional real world as they travel on roads, which may change elevation and may have curves. The estimated vehicle velocities may be displayed on an image near the moving vehicle. Individual images with vehicle velocities may be posted on an Internet site. The sequence of optical images, or streaming video, with the displayed vehicle velocities may also be used for television news programs that show traffic moving on the roadways.

Abstract: An image processing system and image judgment method able to suitably judge whether or not an image includes an image of a predetermined subject to be captured as the image and a program run in the image processing system are provided. Edges of a captured image are enhanced, and an evaluation value Ev concerning intensities of edges and/or amounts of edges included in the captured image is acquired based on values of pixels included in this edge enhanced image. It is judged whether or not the captured image includes an image of a predetermined subject FG based on this acquired evaluation value Ev. It becomes possible to accurately judge if the captured image includes an image of the predetermined subject FG. Further, it is also possible to judge if the image of that subject FG is suitable for a predetermined purpose (for example a template use image of biometric authentication) in accordance with the evaluation value Ev.

Abstract: An image processor includes: a gradation value acquisition unit that acquires a gradation value of a pixel of interest which is a pixel sequentially selected as a target of a binarization process from input image data represented by pixels of M gradations, wherein M?3; and a pattern determination unit that determines a filling pattern of a group of pixels of output image data corresponding to the pixel of interest according to a corrected gradation value acquired by adding, to the gradation value of the pixel of interest, an error value diffused from a pixel at a periphery of the pixel of interest, wherein the filling pattern includes at least a first pattern in which a predetermined plurality of pixels are filled and which forms a core of a dot and a third pattern in which substantially no pixel is filled and the pattern determination unit determines the filling pattern to be one of the first pattern and the third pattern according to a size relationship between the corrected gradation value and a predetermi

Abstract: A document reading apparatus and an image formation apparatus are disclosed. The document reading apparatus detects a locally patent image pixel in a main scanning direction, determines whether locally patent image pixels continuously appear at the same pixel position in the main scanning direction, and counts the number of lines on which locally patent image pixels continuously appear at the same position in the main scanning direction. When the number exceeds a predetermined value, pixel values of locally patent image pixels detected afterwards at the same position in the main scanning direction are removed. If a locally patent image is not detected, the counted number of lines is initialized.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating a pixel signal produced during scanning of a chemical array are provided. In general, the methods involve producing at least two analog signals for a pixel using a multi-gain signal detection system, integrating at least one of these signals, and outputting data representing the pixel. Also provided are systems and computer program products for performing the subject methods, and an array scanner containing these systems and program products.

Abstract: Methods for producing data for a partially saturated pixel produced during scanning of a chemical array are provided. In general, an analog signal for a partially saturated pixel is sampled to obtain a set of non-saturated digital signals and a set of saturated digital signals. The saturated digital signals are then processed to produce data for the pixel. Also provided are computer program products comprising programming for performing the subject methods, and a chemical array scanner containing this programming. The invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including both genomics and proteomics applications.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of automatically creating an index, and a method for the same. The image forming apparatus includes a scan unit to scan a document, a text/image separation unit to separate the scanned document into a text area and an image area and to separate texts in the text area into symbols, an index determination unit to extract one or more properties of the separated symbols and to compare the extracted symbol properties with one or more index thresholds to determine whether text including the symbols is an index object, and an index page creation unit to create an index page including the text determined as the index object and information about a page including the text that corresponds to the index object. Accordingly, since the index page is automatically created, main contents of each page of the document can be easily selected and/or presented.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has the function of an optical zoom which optically converts the magnification of an image and the function of an electronic zoom which changes the size of an image by electrical signal processing. The function of the electronic zoom at least operates when the optical zoom is not set at the telephoto end. A total magnification is determined by changing magnification by the optical zoom and changing magnification by the electronic zoom. A pixel count s1 of an electronic imaging device, a pixel count s2 of a rectangle including the pixels on an imaging device which are used by the electronic zoom, and a pixel count s3 of an output satisfy s1?s2>s3 or s1>s2?s3.

Abstract: To accurately discriminate a dot region within an image, the image processing apparatus includes first through fourth isolated dot discriminating portions each judging, for each of a plurality of pixels included in the image, whether the pixel corresponds to a center pixel of an isolated dot, an isolated dot size determining portion detecting an isolated dot size, a dot region discriminating portion judging whether a target pixel is included in a dot region based on a position of the pixel judged as being the center pixel of the isolated dot, and a dot region determining portion determining the dot region based on a position of the target pixel judged as being included in the dot region and the detected isolated dot size.

Abstract: An image-processing apparatus for processing images, whereby the image-processing apparatus includes an image capture unit, a filter, and an extraction unit. The image capture unit acquires image signals composed of multiple color components of a 2×2 color-coding array. The filter then calculates an average pixel value associated with any (2n?1) pixels acquired by the image capture unit, whereby each of the filtered (2n?1) pixels include a target pixel and adjacent pixels having the same color component as that of the target pixel, and the calculated average is designated as the average of the target pixel and the adjacent pixels. At the extraction unit the pixel having the average calculated by the filter as the pixel value is extracted at an extraction rate of 1/(2n?1), where n is a positive integer value.

Abstract: The device makes it possible to count series of products that are not very thick, stacked side by side, in a determined direction in a retention mechanism. The device includes a lighting mechanism producing one or more light beams covering the whole length of the stack, a detection mechanism with photosensitive elements and including an optical device, making it possible to focus light rays reflected by the stack, a processing mechanism receiving signals originating from the detection circuit, extracting light levels from these signals in correlation with a dimension of stack thickness expressed in pixels, and computing the number of products by determining the repetition of a pattern representative of a product in a noise-free signal resulting from a conversion of the signals received. A Fourier transform is respectively applied to correlation and bicorrelation functions of the signal in order to find a periodic pattern representative of a product if necessary to the nearest phase shift.

Abstract: The method and system for vehicular guidance comprises an imaging device for collecting color image data to facilitate distinguishing crop image data (e.g., crop rows) from background data. A definer defines a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of the imaging device. An intensity evaluator determines scan line intensity data for each of the scan line segments. An alignment detector (e.g., search engine) identifies a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the crop image data, based on the determined scan line intensity meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value.

Abstract: To accurately discriminate a dot region within an image, the image processing apparatus includes first through fourth isolated dot discriminating portions each judging, for each of a plurality of pixels included in the image, whether the pixel corresponds to a center pixel of an isolated dot, an isolated dot size determining portion detecting an isolated dot size, a dot region discriminating portion judging whether a target pixel is included in a dot region based on a position of the pixel judged as being the center pixel of the isolated dot, and a dot region determining portion determining the dot region based on a position of the target pixel judged as being included in the dot region and the detected isolated dot size.

Abstract: A digital camera includes: an evaluation value calculation unit that calculates a focal point evaluation value that changes in correspondence to a position assumed by a focus lens based upon image signals; a focal adjustment unit that executes an AF search by detecting a focus match position based upon resulting focal point evaluation values and driving the focus lens to the focus match position; a face recognition unit that recognizes a face of a person in an image by analyzing the image signals; a distance calculation unit that determines an approximate distance to the face based upon the recognized face size; and a lens position determining unit that determines a focus lens position to be set as a start point of the AF search by the focal adjustment unit based upon the approximate distance to the face having been determined by the distance calculation unit.

Abstract: An integrated console provides multiple users an ability to bring in signals from a plurality of disparate hardware subsystems the monitoring and control signals, all to be controlled from a virtual console on a single computer screen. Multiple users may arrange subwindows for any or all controlled hardware and arrange those subwindows on a computer screen, in accordance with each user's preference. The system may store personalized display layouts, receiving commands from multiple workstations, and routing the commands received to the appropriate subsystems. Meanwhile, the system provides apparatus and methods to automatically detect changes on the subwindows and notify a user thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for evaluating current spreading of a light emitting device. The method includes applying current to a light emitting device and acquiring a luminescence image corresponding to a digital signal, converting the luminescence image into a gray image, and determining the number of pixels having gray levels greater than a set threshold among pixels included in the luminescence image converted into the gray image, as a criterion for determining the degree of current spreading of the light emitting device. The luminescent area of the light emitting device is quantified as an objective value on the two-dimensional plane by using an image processing technique, so that the degree of current spreading in the light emitting device can be evaluated.

Abstract: A method and device are described for extracting metadata from an image of pixels, such as a title or author of a document. At least part of the image is shown on a display for a user. A pointing control element in a user interface, such as a mouse or a touch screen, is operated by a user to generate a selection command. The selection command includes a selection point in a metadata element in the image. A region of foreground pixels is determined, the region containing pixels that are connected to the selection point. An extraction area is constructed around the region. Finally metadata is extracted by processing pixels in the extraction area.

Abstract: A universal counting and measurement system and method. The system and method are not restricted to a specific application, aimed at counting a specific type of object, but are capable of counting objects of a large variety of sizes and shapes. According to certain embodiments, the system and method are also capable of measuring volumes of materials held within a container or piled on a surface. The shape of the containers or the shape of the pile of material are not limited to a certain prescribed architecture. According to certain embodiments, the system is easily adapted to the different applications and can be made ready to work in a short time. The system is also capable of counting accumulating objects or measuring accumulating volumes within one or more containers or piles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to counting techniques for counting biological agents on a biological growth plate or similar medium. In order to automate the counting of biological agents, a biological growth plate is inserted into a biological scanning unit. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, the biological scanning unit generates an image of the plate. Then, the amount of biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can be counted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysis routines performed either by the scanning unit or an external computing device, such as a desktop computer, workstation or the like. A variety of counting rules are described herein that can be used to improve the accuracy of automated counts of biological agents on a biological growth plate.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that identifies halftone regions within a digital image. During operation, the system receives a region from the digital image, wherein the digital image is a bi-level image, wherein each pixel has two possible color values. Next, the system computes a variation index for a region of the digital image, wherein the variation index indicates how frequently adjacent pixel values in the region differ. If the variation index for the region is greater than an upper threshold, the system determines that the region is a halftone region.

Abstract: An image classification program that is executed by a computer includes a first processing step of calculating feature values on the basis of the pixel densities of images, a second processing step of performing calculating in a space defined by the feature values, and a third processing step of grouping images that correspond to feature values that have been divided by the clustering.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of detecting from a vehicle a bend in a road comprising a surface and road edges, comprising the following operations: taking an image of a road scene unfolding in front of the vehicle and at least partly illuminated by the vehicle, determining, for each pixel in the image a light decrease gradient, analysing these decrease gradients and determining an image of the road edges, mathematically discriminating the gradients from the image of the road edges, analyzing this discrimination and determining edges, and an angle of the bend. The invention also concerns a system for implementing the method of the invention comprising a camera mounted in the vehicle, an image processing unit and a neural network.

Abstract: An imaging device collects color image data to facilitate distinguishing crop image data from background data. A definer defines a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of the imaging device. An intensity evaluator determines scan line intensity data for each of the scan line segments. An alignment detector identifies a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the crop image data, based on the determined scan line intensity meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value. A reliability estimator estimates a reliability of the vehicle heading based on compliance with an intensity level criteria associated with one or more crop rows.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for receiving image data composed of a plurality of pixels, extracting an area from an image based on the received data and detecting a type of an image included in the extracted area, includes means for calculating the ratio of pixels having a predetermined pixel value to pixels constituting the area, and detects the type of the image included in the area, based on the calculated ratio of pixels.

Abstract: A road surface reflection detecting apparatus includes a road recognition unit for recognizing a road in a picture taken by a camera of a road existing in front of a vehicle. A road surface reflection detection unit extracts a picture from the road recognized by the road recognition unit and determines the degree of reflection of light from the surface of the road based on the picture extracted from the road. The picture includes the reflection of light beam radiated from vehicle headlights. If the reflection is determined to be high, the direction or intensity of the light beam from the vehicle headlights is regulated.

Abstract: Output from a video camera is monitored. Input data is analyzed to produce a model of a background image and incoming image data is compared with said background model to identify images having a high level of activity created by the introduction of a foreground object. A period of activity, composed of a plurality of consecutive images having a high level of activity, is identified, and an exemplar image is generated.

Abstract: A system and method of producing an image using a plurality of independent pixel devices, each of which includes one or more light emitting or polarizing elements. The pixel devices are fixed (e.g. on the side of a building) or are moving (e.g. on water or falling in air) within an image space in which an image is to be formed. A controller determines, based upon the locations of the pixel devices within the image space, what portion of the image each pixel device is to reproduce, and then commands the pixel devices to use the emitting devices to reproduce the corresponding portion of the image. As the pixel devices move, the new locations of the pixel devices are mapped onto the image, and the control of the pixel devices is modified accordingly so that the image produced by the pixel devices is not distorted by their movement.

Abstract: A method of scoring Oestrogen and Progesterone Receptors expression (ER and PR) from histological images determines the percentage of brown image blob area in total blob area and derives percentage thresholds to quantify scoring. Brown blob area proportion is then compared with the thresholds to provide a first contribution to scoring of ER or PR. The number of relatively dark pixels is then counted, pixel number thresholds are determined to quantify scoring, and the number of relatively dark pixels is compared with the thresholds to provide a second contribution scoring of ER or PR. The two contributions are then added to provide an overall scoring in the range 0 to 8 which may be taken as a final score or it may be scaled to a conventional range 0 to 3.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating a pixel signal produced during scanning of a chemical array are provided. In general, the subject methods involve identifying a set of conformant digital signals for a pixel, and integrating those signals. Also provided are systems and programming for performing the subject methods, and an array scanner containing these systems and programming.

Abstract: The invention relates to a human eye detection method, apparatus, system and storage medium.

Abstract: The static and dynamic characteristics of smoke are developed for extracting smoke pixels of an image and effective smoke detection. In static characteristic, a chromaticity-based analysis is employed to extract grayish pixels in the moving region from a monitored area. Then, a circumference-based disorder measurement in dynamic characteristic is developed to obtain the smoke pixels from the grayish pixels. To enhance the reliability of alarming, a fuzzy system is introduced to judge if the smoke will spread out by checking its growth-rate.

Abstract: A method includes a pixel-value correction step that causes an average and variance of pixel values in a second subregion inclusive of a first subregion inclusive of being formed of only one pixel in a comparison image resolved into pixels to match with an average and variance of pixel values in a subregion corresponding to the second subregion on a reference image similarly resolved into pixels, thereby to execute calculation that corrects the pixel value of each pixel in the first subregion in the comparison image by recognizing each of subregions to be the first subregion, the subregions being obtained when the comparison image is divided into the subregions respectively inclusive of being formed of only one pixel; and a change determination step that determines the presence/absence of a change in the object by comparing the reference image with a post-correction comparison image acquired through the pixel value correction step.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a video image to the scene imaged is provided for which a vehicle image transit can be associated with the transit of the real-world vehicle. A path is determined by a tracking point for at least one vehicle image. A measuring vehicle image is selected, wherein the measuring vehicle image is associated with a known dimension of the real-world measuring vehicle. At a point on the path, collocated with the tracking point, a scaling factor is determined such that a measuring vehicle image dimension is associated with a real-world dimension. A number of scaling factors can then be assembled into a scaling map allowing vehicles traversing the video scene to be measured in time, by the video frame rate, and distance, by the distance of their images and scaled according to the scaling map. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.

Abstract: A method for creating a reduced sized view-map of an autostereoscopic source image is disclosed. The method comprises creating a mathematical model for mapping the autostereoscopic source image into a first view-map, mapping the autostereoscopic source image into the first view-map, wherein the first view-map comprises a source-view image value and a plurality of pixel locations comprising an origin pixel, scanning the first view-map for at least one pixel location whose source-view image value closely matches that of the origin pixel, and generating the reduced sized view-map by replicating matched pixel locations within the first view-map.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for non-contact evaluation of a machined surface of a cast-metal part, including a vision-based porosity inspection station. A digital image of the machined surface is acquired, oriented and scaled to an XY coordinate system, filtered, and inverted. A second image is generated with known design surface features eliminated. Each pixel of the inverted digital image is XOR-compared with a corresponding pixel of the second image. Identified common surface features common to both images is analyzed statistically for conformance to a threshold. A defect is identified as any identified surface feature common to both images which exceeds the threshold. The system moves the part for further processing if a statistical analysis of defects indicates an acceptable component, and alternatively, removes the part from further processing if the analysis indicates a flawed component.

Abstract: An image background maintenance system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.

Abstract: Fire detection and smoke detection use an image capturing device to obtain images from a predetermined area and adopts an RGB (red, green, blue) color model based chromatic and disorder measurement for extracting fire pixels and smoke pixels. The extracted pixels are inputted to a fire detection fuzzy alarm system to generate an output of alarm information. Based on iterative checking on the growing ratio of the alarm information, a fire alarm is released accordingly.

Abstract: Indications of user inputs with respect to a diagnostic image displayed on a display monitor are received to identify defective locations of the display monitor. Information is collected based on the received user inputs that identify defective locations of the display monitor.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software to automatically detect print defects in printed matter. Some embodiments include receiving a reference image and a scanned image, wherein the reference image and the scanned image are of the same subject matter and generating a plurality of detail maps of the reference image and the scanned image at each one or more resolutions to derive one or more detail maps of each image at each resolution. The detail maps, in some embodiments, are generated by identifying differences between pixels in each of one or more directions. The embodiments further include dividing the detail maps of each image into blocks of equal image proportion and calculate an activity measure of each block in each of the detail maps. These embodiments further calculate similarity measures between the blocks of reference image detail maps and the respective blocks of the scanned image detail maps.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document type automatic discrimination section that, based upon input image data read from a document, automatically discriminates a document type of the document. The document type automatic discrimination section, based upon plural types of parameters (quantity of halftone pixels, quantity of photographic-picture pixels, and quantity of high density pixels) obtained from plural types of characteristics (maximum density difference, total density busyness) extracted from the input image data and which parameters are used for discriminating a document type. A specific inkjet printed image whose output image data would not reach a standard level, if a process for a halftone reproduction region or a process for a continuous tone region were to be carried out on the input image data. This can improve the accuracy of document discrimination and the image quality of reproduced image.

Abstract: An image background maintenance system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system has a vision-based occupant classification system for control of airbag deployment during a crash scenario. The classification system utilizes two imaging sensors which together create a stream of paired images received and stored by an occupant classification controller. A computer program product of the controller utilizes the paired images to extract disparity/range features and stereo-vision differential edge density features. Moreover, the controller extracts wavelet features from one of the two paired images. All three features or maps are classified amongst preferably seven classifications by algorithms of the computer program product producing class confidence data fed to a sensor fusion engine of the controller for processing and output of an airbag control signal input into a restraint controller of the vehicle restraint system.

Abstract: An image background maintenance system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.

Abstract: The number of pixels in an identified pixel region is counted, a feature point of the pixel region is extracted and the number of the feature points is counted when the number of the pixels counted has been determined to be equal to or higher than a first threshold value, whether the counted number of the feature points is equal to or lower than a second threshold value is determined, features is calculated based on the feature point extracted from the pixel region when the number of the feature points has been determined to be above the second threshold value, and the first threshold value is changed when the number of the feature points has been determined to be equal to or lower than the second threshold value. Image similarity determination process can be stably performed without any degradation in determination accuracy.

Abstract: An object extraction method comprising the steps of comparing each portion of first image data obtained by capturing an extraction object with another portion of the first image data or second image data, thereby generating shape data as an image representing a provisional region of the extraction object in the first image data, and matching a contour of the shape data to a contour of the extraction object by using the first image data and the provisionally generated shape data.

Abstract: An available image area is recognized from information, including a read start position and a read end position of a document, a scaling for performing image processing, a processing object position, or the like. Subsequently, the number of chromatic pixels of one line is counted to output it to a memory, and when it is summed up to an end line of the available image area, a difference between a count number N1 in one previous line of the available image area and a count number N2 in the end line of the available image area is calculated to thereby compare the difference with a predetermined threshold value. When the difference is larger than the threshold, it is determined to be a chromatic image, whereas when the difference is smaller than the threshold, it is determined to be an achromatic image.

Abstract: A format storage unit stores a predetermined geometric property format. A chart data creating unit creates chart data based upon the geometric property format, and a printing unit creates a test chart by printing mark groups on a recording medium such as a paper sheet based upon the chart data. An image pickup unit outputs a chart image by scanning the test chart, and a mark center calculating unit calculates the center of each mark based upon the chart image. A fitting unit performs a fitting calculation comparing calculation results output from the mark center calculating unit and the chart based upon the geometric property format such that the squared difference therebetween becomes minimum for each mark position.