Abstract: A method for enhancing a digitized image of a document containing text or graphics. The digitized image is decomposed into a low-frequency pedestal image and a high-frequency residual image. A first gain factor image is determined by applying a first tonescale function to the residual image, and a second gain factor image is determined by applying a second tonescale function to the residual image pixel values, wherein parameters defining the tonescale functions are determined by analyzing the pedestal and residual images. An enhanced document image is formed by combining a scaled pedestal image determined by multiplying the pedestal image by the first gain factor image, and a scaled residual image determined by multiplying the residual image by the second gain factor image.

Abstract: An image denoising method according to the present invention includes the steps of: sequentially selecting a pixel in an image as a current pixel; dynamically determining a current search block and a strength parameter; transferring the comparison block of each pixel in the current search block to a frequency domain; determining a current frequency basis; obtaining a similarity between each neighborhood pixel and the current pixel in the current search block according to the current frequency basis; determining a weighting of each neighborhood pixel related to the current pixel according to the strength parameter, and a distance and the current pixel in the current search block; and weighted averaging each neighborhood pixel and the current pixel in the current search block according to the weighting so as to obtain a reconstruction value of the current pixel.

Abstract: Error diffusion halftoning includes using a quantizer having an input and an output; and using a system having a bandpass characteristic to modify the quantizer input without feeding the quantizer output directly into the quantizer input. The error diffusion halftoning can produce clustered pixel halftone patterns that can be reliably reproduced by laser printers and other electro-photographic devices.

Abstract: A method samples a first spectral band to obtain an initial image frame, determines at least one region of interest of the scene from the initial image frame, each of the at least one region of interest associated with a mean signal level, illuminates the at least one region of interest with at least one illuminator when the mean signal level of the at least one region of interest is at or below a respective threshold of a first plurality of thresholds, the at least one region of interest being illuminated in accordance with a power threshold indicating a minimum illuminator power and agility necessary to illuminate the at least one region of interest, collects at least one image frame in at least one sub-band of a second spectral band, and generates at least one image to be displayed from at least the at least one image frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods of ensuring the erasure of transient documents are disclosed. The systems and methods include an imaging device that sends a transient document with a pre-printed image into an erase cycle to attempt to remove the image from the document. After the erase cycle, a scanner scans the transient document and converts the transient document into a digital image. A processor compares bit depths of individual bits of the digital image to a bit depth threshold. Depending on the comparison and a number of completed erase cycles, the transient document enters an additional erase cycle, completes as sufficiently erased, or is rejected as not sufficiently erased.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a first gain for adjusting brightness of a first image and a second image based on the first image captured at a first exposure amount and the second image captured at a second exposure amount, a division unit configured to divide the first gain into a second gain which changes according to a position in an image and a third gain which does not change according to a position in an image, a first gain correction unit configured to perform gain correction on the second image with the second gain, and a second gain correction unit configured to perform gain correction on the second image with the third gain.

Abstract: In a method of image signal processing, defective pixels are determined on-the-fly in a digital image representation based on a comparison of a pixel under evaluation with its surrounding pixels, with reference to a known resolving capability of a lens-sensor arrangement that captured the digital image representation. In response to the determination of defective pixels, the defective pixels are corrected.

Abstract: A method and system operative to process monochrome image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can comprise the steps of receiving monochrome image data, segmenting the input pixel values into pixel value ranges, assigning pixel positions in the lowest pixel value range an output pixel value of a first binary value, assigning pixel positions in the highest pixel value range an output pixel value of a second binary value, wherein the first and second binary values are different, and assigning pixel positions in intermediate pixel value ranges output pixel values that correspond to a spatial binary pattern. The resulting binary image data can be written to a file for subsequent storage, transmission, processing, or retrieval and rendering. In further embodiments, a system can be made operative to accomplish the same.

Abstract: A method of reducing the spatial resolution of images is disclosed. At least one embodiment of the method includes: —acquiring an input image including image parts having a spatial resolution larger than SR pixels/meter; —acquiring a depth map associated with the input image; —determining for each pixel p(x,y) a spatial resolution value by means of the depth map; —processing a region of pixels of the input image for which holds that the spatial resolution value is larger than a predefined threshold corresponding to SR pixels/meter to obtain a corresponding region of pixels having a spatial resolution smaller then or equal to SR pixels/meter in an output image. The method enables to removes privacy information from images by reducing the spatial resolution to a level that the privacy information cannot be recognized in the image anymore.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically analyzing and searching a database of digital content items includes a process for analyzing digital content items to identify portions capable of receiving text. In one implementation user input is received, where the user input helps construct a set of ordered values representing digital content item features desired by the user. The constructed set of ordered values is compared to sets of ordered values corresponding to digital content items in the database of digital content items, and digital content items are retrieved with sets of ordered values corresponding to the constructed set of ordered values.

Abstract: A dual-phase approach to red eye correction may prevent overly aggressive or overly conservative red eye reduction. The dual-phase approach may include detecting an eye portion in a digital image. Once the eye portion is detected, the dual-phase approach may include the performance of a strong red eye correction for the eye portion when the eye portion includes a strong red eye. Otherwise, the dual-phase approach may include the performance of a weak red eye correction for the eye portion when the eye portion includes a weak red eye. The weak red eye may be distinguished from the strong red eye based a redness threshold that shows the weak red eye as having less redness hue than the strong red eye.

Abstract: A contrast enhancement method for an image includes extracting at least one sub-band image from the image, comprising detail information at a predetermined spatial scale; determining a first gain value for each pixel, based on pixel values of the image or the at least one sub-band image; determining a second gain value for each pixel; modifying the first gain value for each pixel using the respective second gain value; and generating an enhanced image by applying the modified first gain values to respective pixels of one or more sub-band images and combining the result with the image. Determining the first gain value for each pixel comprises: estimating a dynamic range of the pixel values in a neighbourhood of that pixel; and setting the first gain value in inverse relation to the dynamic range.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for smoothing of edges in images to remove irregularities are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of image processing includes, identifying an edge in an image having an associated set of edge characteristics, determining the associated set of edge characteristics, and applying a low pass filter to a pixel of the edge based on the associated set of edge characteristics to generate a second image based on the image, wherein the edge in the image is smoothed in the second image. The method further includes generating a third image which is a blend of the original image and the second (edge-smoothed) image based on the associated set of edge characteristics.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an integer-part converting unit configured to convert multi-level image data into integer image data by referring to a first conversion table, a threshold setting unit configured to generate matrix data for performing area coverage modulation by referring to the multi-level image data, a decimal-part converting unit configured to convert the multi-level image data into decimal image data by referring to a second conversion table, a level reducing unit configured to reduce levels of the decimal image data by using a threshold generated in the threshold setting unit, an adding unit configured to add the integer image data to the level-reduced decimal image data and outputting a result of addition as gamma conversion image data, and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the gamma conversion image data.

Abstract: A simple and practical image restoring device capable of improving the performance of image restoration. An image restoring device (100) is provided with a first restoration processing unit (160a) and estimates original image information from the degraded image information into which information unnecessary for the original image information is incorporated. A correlation calculating section (164) calculates the correlation value of the estimation error of when the state amount of a system at time n+1 including the original image information is estimated by information up to time n or the time n+1 with respect to the degraded image information of only the time n.

Abstract: A receiver includes an adaptive equalizer, a power detecting unit and an adjusting unit. The adaptive equalizer is for receiving a signal and generating an equalized signal. The power detecting unit, coupled to the adaptive equalizer, is for detecting the strength of the equalized signal during a first period to generate a first strength signal, and detecting the strength of the equalized signal during a second period to generate a second strength signal. The adjusting unit, coupled to the power detecting unit and the adaptive equalizer, is for adjusting the compensation strength for the adaptive equalizer according to the first and second strength signals.

Abstract: The described methods and corresponding apparatus are for use in highlight recovery in a set of image data. The image data is inverted, treated by a digital lighting process, the subsequently inverted again. This allows the set of data image to be treated for dynamic range compression of detail in both the dark regions and the light regions by the same algorithm. In other words, the process applied to the dark regions can be performed by a correction algorithm and the process applied to the light regions performed by the same algorithm, but with the image data negated before and after the correction algorithm is applied.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for determining control parameters for image enhancement. In one embodiment a method for determining control parameters includes receiving image data for a first frame and calculating an adaptive threshold value based on the image data. The method includes determining a pixel slope distribution for a pixel window of the image data, wherein the pixel window is selected based on the adaptive threshold value and determining a spectrum estimation coefficient based on the pixel distribution, wherein the spectrum estimation coefficient is determined based on the spectral components of the image data. The method may then include determining one or more control parameters for enhancement of the image data based on the spectrum estimation coefficient, wherein the one or more control parameters relate to filtering parameters for adaptive enhancement of image data.

Abstract: A binary image reconstruction method is provided to identify metal objects in a computer tomography (CT) image. The method includes providing a suitably programmed computer, providing a CT image, where the CT image includes intensity data, and the suitably programmed computer is used to determine a first range of attenuation coefficient values and a second range of attenuation coefficient values in the intensity data, where when a difference between the first range of attenuation coefficient values and the second range of attenuation coefficient values is less than a pre-determined gradient threshold value, a boundary of a metal object in the CT image is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a digital image signal to correct for the effect of hand tremble in a digital photographing apparatus, such as a digital camera or video recorder. The method and apparatus perform the operations of generating original image data, dividing the original image data into at least one block and generating processed image data in which an average of the original image data is calculated according to the block, and decreasing a first contribution of the original image data or increasing a second contribution of the processed image data, as a difference of pixels or blocks between the original image data and the processed image data nears to a boundary.

Abstract: A system for recognizing handwriting. A handwritten character is captured as an image of black pixels and white pixels. The image is partitioned into segments, each of which having a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment to a total number of black pixels in the image. A reference character has segments corresponding to the image segments. Each reference character segment has a value range of a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment of the reference character to a total number of black pixels in the reference character. It is ascertained that the pixel ratio of more than a predetermined number of segments in the image are within the value range of the pixel ratio of the corresponding segments of the reference character, from which, the handwritten character is recognized as the reference character.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for recognizing handwriting. A handwritten character is captured as an image of black pixels and white pixels. The image is partitioned into segments, each of which having a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment to a total number of black pixels in the image. A reference character has segments corresponding to the image segments. Each reference character segment has a value range of a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment of the reference character to a total number of black pixels in the reference character. It is ascertained that the pixel ratio of more than a predetermined number of segments in the image are within the value range of the pixel ratio of the corresponding segments of the reference character, from which, the handwritten character is recognized as the reference character.

Abstract: Calibrated infrared and range imaging sensors are used to produce a true-metric three-dimensional (3D) surface model of any body region within the fields of view of both sensors. Curvilinear surface features in both modalities are caused by internal and external anatomical elements. They are extracted to form 3D Feature Maps that are projected onto the skin surface. Skeletonized Feature Maps define subpixel intersections that serve as anatomical landmarks to aggregate multiple images for models of larger regions of the body, and to transform images into precise standard poses. Features are classified by origin, location, and characteristics to produce annotations that are recorded with the images and feature maps in reference image libraries. The system provides an enabling technology for searchable medical image libraries.

Abstract: A method of processing pixels of an image comprises determining the most homogenous region of the image, calculating a threshold (th) according to the content of the determined region, selecting pixels in the image according to the calculated threshold (th), and applying a gain to the selected pixels. The method can also further comprise calculating the gain according to the content of the image.

Abstract: There is provided an image processor for processing input image data having a luminance component and other components, which are defined in a prescribed color space. The image processor includes: a first emphasis processor configured to process first image data so as to emphasize the contrast of the first image data in accordance with a first emphasis amount, wherein the first image data correspond to the luminance component of the input image data; a second emphasis processor configured to process second image data so as to emphasize the chroma of the second image data in accordance with the first emphasis amount, wherein the second image data correspond to said other components of the input image data; and an image data generator configured to generate new image data by combining the contrast-emphasized first image data and the chroma-emphasized second image data.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system comprises: an imaging unit for irradiating a subject with X ray at different angles while moving an X-ray source in one direction in tomosynthesis imaging, detecting the X ray with which the subject has been irradiated with a flat panel detector to acquire projection data of X-ray images taken at different angles; and an image processor for reconstructing a first X-ray tomographic image using projection data acquired by the imaging unit, the image processor including: a correction decision unit for selecting, according to a given selection condition, one of previously provided different corrections to be performed on the projection data; a first image correction unit for performing correction based upon the correction selected by the correction decision unit on the projection data; and a first image reconstruction unit for reconstructing the first X-ray tomographic image using the corrected projection data.

Abstract: This presents an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which print and output image data subjected to halftone processing with an appropriate density characteristic. The image processing apparatus generates a halftone image from a multi-value image using a threshold value arrangement, and generates a difference image between the generated halftone image and a second halftone image having the density characteristic different from that of the generated halftone image. The image processing apparatus stores the generated halftone image and the generated difference image.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously optimizing a digital image taken in or through a scattering medium and obtaining information regarding optical properties of the scattering medium is provided. Digital image data are received by a computer. The digital image is evaluated according to an objective image quality metric and a resulting image quality value is compared to a previously stored image quality value for the image. A revised optical transfer function is derived by modeling the optical properties of the medium to be used to generate a restored digital image, which is derived from the original image and the revised optical transfer function. The restored digital image is evaluated according to the objective image quality metric and an optimized restored image is identified. The optical properties associated with the optical transfer function producing the optimized restored image represent a close approximation of the true optical properties of the medium.

Abstract: A method for calculating an image quality metric for evaluating the quality of a digital image including the steps of denoising the data of the image, identifying edges in the denoised data, determining an edge profile of the edges, determining a grayscale angle for each identified edge in the edge profile that is associated with the edge, and calculating the image quality metric based on a weighted average of the grayscale angles for all the edges.

Abstract: An operation control map of a white line detection apparatus, including a white line detection portion that detects a white line on a road based on a captured image of the road surface, that references the operation control map to determine whether to allow operation of the white line detection portion. The operation control map includes a region in which operation of the white line detection is allowed, and a region in which operation is not allowed, based on the gain of a road surface image signal and the temperature of a road surface imaging portion. The allowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection, due to the thermal noise generated in the solid-state imaging sensor, falls within an acceptable range, and the disallowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection falls outside of the acceptable range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a dynamic re-configuration with a DFE imager and caching modules to optimize RIP performance by analyzing pages within the job that collect page with job heuristics and statistics. Enabling the functionality to assess the information, thereby re-configuring a digital printer's imager and caching module dynamically during the job RIP to achieve improved overall RIP performance. Accordingly, a system collects and assesses job statistics across multiple jobs to enable optimum performance over time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and configurations for error diffusion halftoning of an image including receiving a signal that indicates selection of a first implementation or a second implementation of determining a threshold perturbation value for error diffusion halftoning of an image, and determining the threshold perturbation value using a table of programmable values according to the selected one of the first implementation or the second implementation, wherein the second implementation provides fewer threshold perturbation values for a larger region of the image than the first implementation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: It is determined whether the pixel of interest in image data to be processed belongs to area 1 not close to a scan line changing point where a scan line changing process is done (S101). If the pixel of interest belongs to area 1, an error diffusion process is performed using an error diffusion matrix for area 1 (S102). If the pixel of interest belongs to area 2 close to the scan line changing point, the error diffusion process is performing using an error diffusion matrix for downward scan line changing for area 2 when the scan line changing process is changing to a lower line, or an error diffusion matrix for upward scan line changing for area 2 when the scan line changing process is changing to an upper line.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one aspect, a method of binarizing an image is provided. The method includes partitioning the image into a plurality of image segments, each image segment having a plurality of image pixels and partitioning each of the image segments into subsegments, each image subsegment having a plurality of image pixels. The method also includes estimating a grey membership parameter for each image pixel for each of the plurality of image segments and subsegments, combining the grey membership parameter for each of the plurality of image pixels from each of the plurality of image segments and subsegments to estimate a net grey membership parameter for each image pixel and assigning black or white color to each of the plurality of image pixels based on the estimated net grey membership parameter of the respective pixel.

Abstract: A character line recognition method for processing image data obtained by scanning a character line on a medium to recognize the character line may include processing the image data into monochrome binary format image data by using a predetermined binarization standard threshold; extracting character features from each character that composes the character line to calculate similarity with respect to standard character features; temporarily determining characters based on the similarity; calculating basic statistics of the similarity for all the characters which have been temporarily determined; and changing the binarization standard threshold based on the basic statistics and then returning to the processing the image data.

Abstract: A threshold matrix generating method includes: generating q(x, y, g) in which the number of dots in an initial dot pattern is varied; calculating an error matrix (ERR(x, y, g)) of q(x, y, g); calculating AVE(a, b) representing the uniformity of the number of dots in discrete blocks into which the dot pattern has been divided; determining two pixels, of which the dot positions are to be swapped, on the basis of ERR (x, y, g) and AVE(a, b); swapping the dot positions; calculating the evaluation value (MSE(n)) of q(x, y, g) after the positional swapping; and repeating the positional switch of the dots repeating the generation of q(x, y, g) and the positional swapping of the dots with q(x, y, g) functioning as the initial dot pattern until a q(x, y, g) satisfying MSN(n)<MSN(n?1) is obtained.

Abstract: In a matrix area, a plurality of linear areas each of which extends in a tilt direction tilted relatively to row and column directions are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the tilt direction without spaces, and the plurality of linear areas are alternatively assigned to first and second element groups along an arrangement direction. One element is specified in each element group, and subsequently a process of specifying an element farthest from the specified elements is repeated, to acquire a turn-on order of dots with increase in gray level in one grayscale range and a turn-off order of dots with decrease in gray level in the remaining grayscale range, and a threshold value of each element is determined according to these orders. Thus, generated is a threshold matrix capable of reducing graininess in a halftone image with directionality in the tilt direction, and improving the reproduction of thin lines and characters.

Abstract: A video filter processes a video input signal that includes a plurality of pixels in a plurality of macroblocks. The video filter includes an edge detector that processes a selected group of the plurality of pixels to generate a edge identification signal that identifies edge pixels in the selected group, wherein the edge detector is adapted based on a quantization parameter of at least one macroblock corresponding to the selected group of the plurality of pixels. An adaptive deblocking filter is coupled to receive the video input signal and to produce a processed video signal in response thereto, the adaptive deblocking filter being adaptive based on the edge identification signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus capable of generating frequency-modulation halftone dots in high speed and belongs to the field of the digital image halftone. In the prior art, read-write operation is usually carried out many times in error rows during processing each pixel so that halftone dots are generated in low speed. In the method according to the present invention, the error generated by the current pixel is buffered in a register file and the final accumulated error values are written in the error rows only after all of the relative pixels are processed. Thus, read-write operation is carried out only once in the error rows for processing each pixel. The present invention also provides an apparatus to implement the method. The apparatus comprises an error row memory, an error buffer register file, a gray generation circuit, a threshold comparison circuit, an error generation circuit, an error buffer register file control circuit, and an error row control circuit.

Abstract: A disclosed method for setting multiple tones in a halftone process upon recording an image using ink includes the steps of: dividing the image into plural dot areas; and setting the multiple tones such that at least one dot area to which the ink is not attached is present between dot areas to which the ink is attached.

Abstract: Provided is an image sharpening processing device capable of performing image sharpening processing by changing only luminance without changing a hue.

Abstract: Line images in horizontal and vertical directions are detected from input image data, and an intersection of the line images is calculated. the calculated intersection is regarded as a feature point of input image data. Thus, it is possible to easily and promptly extract, from image data, a feature point that allows specifying the image data appropriately.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for reducing noise in an image includes receiving a first image in a computer system. The first image depicts an interior of an item and is generated using a technique that provides imaging at selected depths in the item. The first image represents a first interior section having a first thickness. The method includes determining a modification for the first image using a second image of the interior. The second image represents a second interior section encompassing the first interior section and has a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The method includes storing the modification in association with the first image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of exerting a noise reduction effect corresponding to a pixel value of a target pixel. An image processing apparatus that reduces a noise included in a target pixel while reflecting a surrounding pixel located on a surrounding of the target pixel, comprises a selecting section that selects a pixel width tolerable with reference to a true value of the target pixel as a pixel value of the target pixel and correcting section that extracts either one or both pixel values, namely, a pixel value of the surrounding pixel and the pixel value of the target pixel, as a correction value for correcting the pixel value of the target pixel depending on the pixel width selected by the selecting portion.

Abstract: When a halftone frequency inputted to a diffusion coefficient storage section is a low halftone frequency, or when the halftone frequency is a middle halftone frequency or high halftone frequency and a zoom level is a middle zoom level or high zoom level, the same set of diffusion coefficients are selected. Moreover, when the halftone frequency inputted to the diffusion coefficient storage section is the middle halftone frequency or high halftone frequency and the zoom level is the low zoom level, individual sets of diffusion coefficients are selected for respective current pixels. A diffusion error calculation section calculates diffusion errors to be diffused to respective not-quantized peripheral pixels of the current pixel, based on a quantization error inputted from a quantization error calculation section and the set of diffusion coefficients selected from the diffusion coefficient storage section.

Abstract: An image pickup system for processing a signal from a CCD includes a noise reducing unit for performing a noise reduction processing on the signal from the CCD, an edge direction detection unit for detecting an edge direction from the signal having been subjected to the noise reduction processing, and an edge extraction unit for extracting an edge component from the signal from the CCD on the basis of the edge direction.

Abstract: When retrieving an image from an archive of stored images that is similar to an inputted image, an image-processing apparatus (200) extracts more than one characteristic point from the inputted image (S504), computes a characteristic amount for the characteristic points thus extracted (S505), and evaluates the fluctuation in the characteristic amount when a prescribed alteration is applied to the inputted image (S506). The image-processing apparatus selects a characteristic point from among the characteristic points thus extracted from the inputted image, and retrieves (S508) a stored image that is similar to the inputted image, in accordance with the characteristic amount of the characteristic point thus selected.

Abstract: An electronic visual aid is provided that includes an evaluating unit, which is supplied with a recording of an information carrier on which information standing out visibly from the background is displayed. The evaluating unit determines a brightness distribution of the recording and derives from the brightness distribution a brightness threshold value lying in the transition zone between a zone of the brightness distribution associated with the background and a zone of the brightness distribution associated with the information. The visual aid also includes an image processing unit which generates from the recording a binary image having only two different, predetermined brightness values, by respectively assigning to the pixels of the binary image the first of the two brightness values when the brightness of the corresponding pixel of the recording is below the brightness threshold value, and otherwise assigning the second brightness value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for concealing a dark defect in an image sensor. The method includes the steps of: setting a window including five sequential pixels from pixel data sequentially outputted, the third pixel and the fifth pixels being identical in Bayer color with each other and the second and the fourth pixels being identical in Bayer color with each other; calculating an average value ? of the first and the fifth pixels and a plurality of ?/n obtained by dividing the average value ? by n; selecting one of the plurality of ?/n; comparing a threshold value ?+?/n calculated by adding the average value ? to the selected ?/n with a value of the third pixel in size; and omitting a concealment of the dark defect when the threshold value ?+?/n is greater than the value of the third pixel.