Abstract: In this invention there are described a set of algorithms based on multiresolution subdivision surfaces that perform at interactive rates and enable intuitive surface cut-and-paste operations. The method includes separating a source region of interest of a source surface into a source base surface and a source detail surface; separating a target region of interest of a target surface into a target base surface and a target detail surface; and pasting the source detail surface onto the target base surface in accordance with a mapping. The step of pasting includes parameterizing and mapping the parameterized regions of interest of the source and target surfaces into an intermediate plane, and aligning the parameterizations using a linear transformation that compensates for first order distortions.

Abstract: In accordance with a specific embodiment of the present invention, an image is projected upon a surface. The image can include a pattern having a plurality of individual shapes used to measure and map the surface. The plurality of individual shapes include features that are detectable in a direction parallel to the plane formed by a projection axis of the projected shapes and a point associated with a view axis. The image further comprises a feature containing an encoding information for identifying the plurality of shapes individually. The feature containing encoding information can be a separate feature from each of the plurality of individual shapes, or may be a feature integral to the plurality of individual shapes. The feature containing encoding information is oriented such that the encoding information is retrieved along a line perpendicular to a plane formed by the projection axis and the point along the view axis. The use of the feature is used to perform multiframe reference independent scanning.

Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically-by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.

Abstract: A method of simply mapping a texture such as a light point texture onto a three-dimensional model comprises the steps of designating a three-dimensional model having polygons to be subjected to a texture mapping process, designating a texture used for the texture mapping process, and transforming the polygons by perspective transformation and performing the texture mapping process by mapping the designated texture onto respective vertices of the transformed polygons.

Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for generating an animated three-dimensional video head based on sensed locations of facial features and texture mapping of corresponding two dimensional video image frames onto a shaped head mesh generated using the sensed locations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating three-dimensional models of an object use images having unmeasured camera parameters. Camera calibration determines the perspective of the camera from the content of the images. A background having a pattern with a known marks in each image can facilitate determination of the camera parameters. One background pattern includes separated marks having rectangular sections where corners of the rectangular sections provide calibrations points for the camera parameters. The camera parameters can also be determined by matching features of the object in different images and determining differences in perspective from differences in the appearance of the matched features in different images. A combination of projective and metric reconstructions provides robust reconstruction.

Abstract: To lighten the processing load of embedding a digital watermark in content data, a preliminary process (embedding strength map generating process) run by a preprocessing section and the main process (digital watermark embedding process) run by a man processing section are run mutually independently. Specifically, the preliminary process of the preprocessing section is run each time new content data is stored to the content data database, and the main process of the main processing section is run when a content delivery request is received from a receiving terminal (client).

Abstract: A regression mirror reflects light from a light projector in a reflecting direction opposite an incident direction. A light receiver combined with the light projector in a unitary unit receives the reflected light from the regression mirror. A detecting unit including an optical sensing unit having the light projector, the light receiver and the reflecting member is disposed so that a wafer is disposed in a moving path along which an optical path of the optical sensing unit moves relative to the wafer. An information-acquiring unit acquires position information of the detecting unit relative to the wafer, an arithmetic unit calculates mapping information about an arrangement of the wafer based on the position information and light-reception information provided by the light receiver.

Abstract: An image processing system and method for smoothing irregularities from 3D image information that was reconstructed from a plurality of 2D views of a scene, and particularly from homogeneous surfaces of objects in a scene. The method defines a window that overlaps a plurality of pixels of one of a plurality of 2D image views of a scene. Each pixel is associated with predefined 3D depth information, and further is associated with a matching curve. A subject pixel is located within the plurality of pixels overlapped by the window. The method calculates an average 3D depth information associated with the plurality of pixels overlapped by the window, and assigns the calculated average 3D depth information to the 3D depth information of the subject pixel, if the calculated average 3D depth information is within an error region of a matching curve associated with the subject pixel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating an 2-D projection directly from a 3-D volume data, the method comprising the steps of determining a viewing direction vector in a viewing frustum, determining a major axis of the direction vector, resampling the volume data in the direction of the major axis, applying a shear factorization to the resampled data; and rendering the factorized data. The method provides a singularly warped image which avoids have to patch images from multiple warp functions which, in turn, improves the quality of the final image. Finally, the image allows a scene to be rendered from within the scene itself. The invention can be applied to medical imaging and enable a surgeon to view an image such as a CT scan with perspective as well as from within the scan itself, providing the surgeon with an invaluable tool.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for constructing a virtual three-dimensional model of an object using a data processing system, and at least one machine-readable memory accessible to the data processing system. A set of at least two digital three-dimensional frames of portions of the object are obtained from a scanner or other source comprising a set of point coordinates in a three dimensional coordinate system providing differing information of the surface of the object. The frames provide a substantial overlap of the represented portions of the surface of the object, but do not coincide exactly. Data representing the set of frames are stored in the memory and processed by the data processing system so as to register the frames relative to each other to thereby produce a three-dimensional virtual representation of the portion of the surface of the object covered by the set of frames.

Abstract: An automated method is provided for assessing fit and alignment of an assembly component in relation to its assembly environment. The method includes: collecting measurement data for the assembly component; defining model data representative of an assembly environment, where the assembly environment is defined by surfaces of objects that are adjacent to the assembly component in an assembled configuration; and comparing the measurement data with the model data for the assembly environment, thereby assessing the assembly component in relation to its assembly environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 3-dimension (3D) scanning system for a computer-aided tooth modeling capable of extracting a configuration of a tooth into a 3D configuration data in a short time. The 3D scanning system includes an image detecting part for extracting an image data of a tooth plaster model, a moving part for changing a location and a position of the tooth plaster model measured by the image detecting part, and a control part for changing and controlling the location and the position of the tooth plaster model by controlling the moving part to measure the tooth plaster model using the image detecting part.

Abstract: A texture mapping system comprises memory and a texture map manager. The memory stores a first texture map and a parametric texture map. The texture map manager is configured to combine at least a portion of the first texture map and at least a portion of the parametric texture map, and the texture map manager is configured to determine a texture map type for the first texture map and a texture map type for the parametric texture map and to perform a prioritization of the texture map portions based on the determined texture map types. The texture map manager is further configured to select, for conversion, one of the texture map portions based on the prioritization and to convert the selected texture map portion into a form corresponding to a form of the non-selected texture map portion.

Abstract: The orientation of a camera associated with a first image is determined based on a shape of a perimeter of a corrected version of the first image. The corrected version of the first image has less perspective distortion relative to a reference image than the first image. The shape of the perimeter of the corrected version of the first image is also different from the shape of the perimeter of the first image. The first image is then projected onto a surface based on the orientation of the camera.

Abstract: An embodiment of texture mapping system comprises a plurality of format-specific editors and a parametric texture map (PTM) editing tool. Each of the format-specific editors is configured to perform at least one spatial operation on a PTM of a different format. The PTM editing tool is configured to receive a command to perform a spatial operation on a parametric texture map identified by the command. The PTM editing tool is configured to select one of the format-specific editors based on a format of the identified PTM and to invoke the selected format-specific editor in response to the command.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image input apparatus into which a three-dimensional image as well as a two-dimensional image can be easily input. This image input apparatus includes an image pick-up unit, a projector unit, and a mover unit. The projector unit projects a predetermined projection light pattern onto an image object, and the image pick-up unit picks up the projection image containing distortions of the projection light pattern. The relative position between the projector unit and the image pick-up unit is fixed. The mover unit moves the image pick-up unit relatively with the projector unit, so that the image pick-up unit can pick up a plurality of projection images at different image pick-up locations.

Abstract: A graphical display system comprises memory and a texture mapper. The memory stores a parametric texture map (PTM) and a non-parametric texture map (non-PTM). The texture mapper is configured to selectively apply, based on a viewing parameter of a graphical object, the PTM and the non-PTM to a pixel of the graphical object.

Abstract: A 3D modeling system for automatically generating fully-textured 3D models of objects from a sequence of images taken around the objects is disclosed. There are several processes developed to facilitate the operation of the 3D modeling system by an ordinary skilled person. One of the processes is the automatic calibration of a camera using only a portion of a calibration disc to essentially provide a larger effective field of view of the camera. Another process is a space carving process that subdivides volumetric cells recursively to fit to a 3D object using a tree structure that encodes the entire process. Still another process is a 3D mesh model generation process that begins with the tree structure and generates self-constraint and interconnected triangles, in a sense that all triangles intersect with each other either not at all or at common boundary faces, to represent the shape of the 3D object.

Abstract: A visual image system is constructed as including: a three-dimensional visual image reproducer for transmitting a three-dimensional video signal; a parallax quantity detecting section for detecting a parallax quantity in the three-dimensional video signal from the three-dimensional visual image reproducer; a fatigue measure estimating section for estimating the degree of fatigue based on the detected parallax quantity and outputting an image switching signal correspondingly to a fatigue measure estimating quantity; a 3D/2D image switching section for providing an output by switching between three-dimensional and two-dimensional images based on the image switching signal; and an image display section for displaying a three-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image. The visual image system thereby fulfills the capability of suitably controlling the degree of three-dimensionality of stereoscopic images by inferring from the inputted video signal the degree of effects likely to be produced on the observer.

Abstract: A method for automatically or semi-automatically constructing a digital 3D model of a scene from photographic data and photogrammetry data includes defining an initial rough model as a solution estimate. A reverse rendering step includes a second-order solution method that employs automatic differentiation techniques to accurately compute derivatives of an error function. In an embodiment of the method, at least one camera is placed within the scene being constructed, and photographic data from this camera is used in the solution process.

Abstract: Imaging, object tracking, integration apparatus 100 has tracking system 1, imaging system 3, communication system 5 and integration system 7. Tracking system 1 locates objects in 3-dimensions and determines respective poses. Imaging system 3 acquires object images. Integration system 7 correlates 3-dimensional poses. User communication system 5 provides information, such as images, sounds, or control signals to the user or other automated systems. Image acquisition techniques include X-ray imaging and ultrasound imaging. Images can be acquired from digital files. Imaging system 3 creates a calibrated, geometrically corrected two-dimensional image 110, 210. Correlation system 7 can receive instructions from a practitioner to create, destroy, and edit the properties of a guard. Communications system 5 displays images and calculations to a practitioner, such as a surgeon. Methods can determine geometrical relations between guards and/or present to a practitioner projections of forms of guards.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to generate and to access compressed and indexed elevations of Digital Elevation Models. In one aspect of the invention, a method to store elevation data includes: compressing elevation data of a first portion of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to generate first compressed elevation data; storing the first compressed elevation data in a storage location pointed to by a first index; and storing the first index. In another aspect of the invention, a method to retrieve elevation data includes: locating a first compressed portion of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using a first index; and decompressing the first compressed portion to retrieve first elevation data for at least one sample point in the Digital Elevation Model. The Digital Elevation Model has a plurality of compressed portions which includes the first compressed portion; and the first index points to a storage location where the first compressed portion is stored.

Abstract: A 3-D model of an object is created by processing images taken from a series of camera positions. An initial sequence of the images is processed to define respective image co-ordinates of matching features to generate a set of model data defining model points in a 3-D space of the model and to obtain respective camera solutions representative of positions and orientations of virtual cameras in the 3-D space defining views of the model corresponding to the images. A new image is added to the sequence and processed to obtain a camera solution for a corresponding new virtual camera for use in generating further model data.

Abstract: A system and method of adding hyperlinked information to a television broadcast. The broadcast material is analyzed and one or more regions within a frame are identified. Additional information can be associated with a region, and can be transmitted in encoded form, using timing information to identify the frame with which the information is associated. The system comprising a video source and an encoder that produces a transport stream in communication with the video source, an annotation source, a data packet stream generator that produces encoded annotation data packets in communication with the annotation source and the encoder, and a multiplexer system in communication with the encoder and the data packet stream generator. The encoder provides timestamp information to the data packet stream generator and the data packet stream generator synchronizes annotation data from the annotation source with a video signal from the video source in response to the timestamp information.

Abstract: An apparatus (2) for matching features in images of objects taken from different viewpoints is provided comprising: an image buffer (60) for receiving image data; and output buffer (62) for outputting pairs of matched features and processing means (64–78) for processing received image data to determine matched pairs of features in images.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus 20 an input sequence 130 of video images is processed to determine the different positions and orientations at which the images were recorded in an efficient and accurate manner. A subset of the input images are selected as keyframes to form a sequence 250 of keyframes. Respective triples of keyframes having different, non-overlapping positions in the sequence 250 are selected and processed to determine the relative positions and orientations at which the keyframes in each triple were recorded to form respective sets of keyframes. The positions and orientations of keyframes between the keyframes in each triple are then calculated to form expanded sets of keyframes 266, 276, 286. The sets are further expanded by calculating the positions and orientations of keyframes which lie between sets in the sequence 250. The sets are merged by calculating the relationship between the coordinate systems in which the positions and orientations of the keyframes in each set are defined.

Abstract: A method determines a distance from a 3D point to a 3D surface from a 2D projected range image. A projected distance and a cliff distance from the 3D point to the 3D surface are determined using the projected range image. The projected distance and the cliff distance are then combined to determine the distance from the 3D point to the 3D surface.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of range data and texture data obtained at different visual points are generated with respect to a measuring object, and relative shift processing of the range data is carried out. At a point to which the range data is shifted, corresponding points of the range data are calculated, and the correlation of the texture data is calculated on the basis of the calculated corresponding points. The minute shift of the range data, the corresponding point calculation processing, and the calculation of the correlation value of the texture data are repeatedly carried out for each minute shift of the range data. The corresponding point for the data exhibiting the highest texture correlation is outputted and the shift quantity of the range data is calculated on the basis of the outputted corresponding point.

Abstract: To provide a device capable of determining uniquely the direction of rotation applied to an image and extracting digital watermark information correctly even in the case where a registration signal having a symmetric axis is embedded. A device for enabling digital watermark information to be extracted from image data having the digital watermark information embedded therein in such a manner that it can hardly be perceived by human eyes, in which processing for extracting rotation information and position information from the image data is performed plural times for rotation angles different from one another. For extracted position and rotation information, confidence coefficients indicating accuracy thereof are calculated. The position and rotation angle at which the digital watermark information is embedded are determined based on the confidence coefficients.

Abstract: A system for detection and control of deposition on pendant tubes in recovery and power boilers includes one or more deposit monitoring sensors operating in infrared regions and about 4 or 8.7 microns and directly producing images of the interior of the boiler. An image pre-processing circuit (95) in which a 2-D image formed by the video data input is captured, and includes a low pass filter for performing noise filtering of said video input. An image segmentation module (105) for separating the image of the recovery boiler interior into background, pendant tubes, and deposition. An image-understanding unit (115) matches derived regions to a 3-D model of said boiler. It derives a 3-D structure the deposition on pendant tubes in the boiler and provides the information about deposits to the plant distributed control system (130) for more efficient operation of the plant pendant tube cleaning and operating systems.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a curve, such as a Low Discrepancy Curve, on a surface, such as an abstract surface with a Riemannian metric. The system may comprise a computer which includes a CPU and a memory medium which is operable to store one or more programs executable by the CPU to perform the method. The method may: 1) parameterize the surface; 2) select a curve, such as a Low Discrepancy Curve, in a parameter space, for example, a simple space such as a unit square; 3) re-parameterize the surface, for example, re-parameterize the surface such that a ratio of line and area elements of the surface based on a Riemannian metric is constant; and 4) map the curve onto the surface using the re-parameterization. The method may also generate output comprising information regarding the mapped curve, for example, displaying the mapped curve on a display device.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing from volumetric CT or MRI scan data of a patient region, a virtual two-dimensional fluoroscopic image of the patient region as seen from a selected point in space are disclosed. In practicing the method, a plurality of rays are constructed between a selected view point and each of a plurality of points in an XY array, where at least some of the rays pass through the patient target region, the points in the XY array correspond to the XY array of pixels in a display screen, and each pixel in the display screen includes multiple N-bit registers for receiving digital-scale values for each of multiple colors. For each pixel element, a sum of all M-bit density values associated with voxels along a ray extending from the selected point to the associated pixel element is calculated.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic two-dimensional picture includes a display unit having a flat image display screen for displaying a two-dimensional picture containing a stereoscopic image and an image transmitting panel placed parallel to and apart from the image display screen. The image transmitting panel has a microlens array of a plurality of lenses and an effective area larger than that of the stereoscopic image contained in the two-dimensional picture, and a lens frame area surrounding a perimeter of the effective area of the microlens array. The image transmitting panel generates an image-formation plane for displaying a real image of the two-dimensional picture in a space located on an opposite side to the display unit with respect to the microlens array. The apparatus also includes a stereoscopic frame for defining a space for accommodating the image-formation plane.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for automated detection of lung nodules in computed tomography (CT) image scans, including generating two-dimensional segmented lung images by segmenting a plurality of two-dimensional CT image sections derived from the CT image scans; generating three-dimensional segmented lung volume images by combining the two-dimensional segmented lung images; determining three-dimensional lung nodule candidates from the three-dimensional segmented lung volume images, including, identifying structures within the three-dimensional segmented lung volume images that meet a volume criterion; deriving features from the lung nodule candidates; and detecting lung nodules by analyzing the features to eliminate false-positive nodule candidates from the nodule candidates.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus capable of storing therein a small amount of images and also capable of displaying two sorts, or more of images within a short time period, an axial image 1, a sagittal image 2, and a coronal image 3, which are loaded from a magnetic disk, are displayed on a CRT monitor 117. Image position indication FIGS. 4, 5, 6 are indicated above the respective tomographic images, and positions of the respective tomographic images are indicated on the respective image position indication FIGS. 4, 5, 6 by employing heavy lines 4a, 5a, 6a, and triangular symbols 4b, 5b, 6b. The positions of the tomographic images can be adjusted by dragging the respective triangular symbols 4b, 5b, 6b by using a mouse 118. Image position input FIGS. 7, 8, 9 are indicated under the respective tomographic images, and the positions of the respective displayed tomographic images are indicated on the image position input FIGS. 7, 8, 9 by way of drag bars 7a, 8a, 9a.

Abstract: A system and method of adding hyperlinked information to a television broadcast. The broadcast material is analyzed and one or more regions within a frame are identified. Additional information can be associated with a region, and can be transmitted in encoded form, using timing information to identify the frame with which the information is associated. The system comprising a video source and an encoder that produces a transport stream in communication with the video source, an annotation source, a data packet stream generator that produces encoded annotation data packets in communication with the annotation source and the encoder, and a multiplexer system in communication with the encoder and the data packet stream generator. The encoder provides timestamp information to the data packet stream generator and the data packet stream generator synchronizes annotation data from the annotation source with a video signal from the video source in response to the timestamp information.

Abstract: Featured is a device for generating a 3-D model of a target object detects size, position, and direction of the target object in an input image. The device calculates the position of each vertex of a 3-D rough geometric model projected onto a 2-D plane in the detected size, position, and direction, as well as onto a 2-D plane in a predetermined size, position, and direction. The device also modifies the input image based on a correspondence relationship between the position of each vertex of the 3-D rough geometric model calculated by the first calculation means and the position of each vertex of the 3-D rough geometric model calculated by the second calculation means to generate a texture images and maps the texture image to the 3-D rough geometric model.

Abstract: For use in an integral equation formulation of capacitance, a system for, and method of, generating a representation of charge distribution for a given capacitive structure (which may be an integrated circuit). In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a charge variation function generator that creates a multidimensional charge variation function that is not directly dependent on a conductive geometry of the structure and (2) a conductive geometry generator, associated with the charge variation generator, that creates a conductive geometry that is independent of charge variation in the structure, the charge variation function and the conductive geometry employable in the integral equation formulation to reduce a complexity thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward providing a system for constructing a graphical representation of an image, as perceived from a desired view, from a plurality of calibrated views. An optimum, median fused depth map of a new, desired view of an object or a scene is constructed from a plurality of depth maps of the object or scene, utilizing median values for each of the image pixels within the image domain of the new view. Each of the known depth maps are rendered into the new view, and the pixels of the rendered image are processed one at a time until a median value for each pixel in the new view of the image of the object or scene is calculated. The calculated median values are then assembled into a median fused depth map of the new view of the object or scene, with the median fused depth map available to construct a new two or three dimension images and models of the object or scene as perceived from the new view.

Abstract: A method generates a synthetic textured data signal by first acquiring a time-invariant input textured data signal. The input textured data signal is sampled to construct an observation matrix. The observation matrix is eigen-coding and factoring to identify a linear dynamic system modeling the input textured data signal. Then, the linear dynamic system can be run forward from an initial state using a quadratic regulator and a random noise signal to generate the synthetic textured data signal.

Abstract: An image processing device for generating a 3-D model image of a target object included in an input image, comprises a face image input means for inputting a face image; a 3-D model input means for inputting one or a plurality of 3-D models for each of a plurality of parts; a 3-D model selection means for selecting a 3-D model for an arbitrary part of the plurality of parts based on an instruction input by an operator; a face image mapping means for mapping the face image input via the face image input means to the 3-D model selected by the 3-D model selection means and for displaying the mapped 3-D model; and an image generation means for generating a 3-D still image using the 3-D model selected by the 3-D model selection means and the face image input by the face image input means.

Abstract: A method edits a 3D model using 2D images. First, a projected range image is generated from a 3D model. The projected range image is edited using a 2D editor. A projected distance and a cliff distance from a plurality of 3D points to a 3D surface of the 3D model are determined using the edited projected range image. The projected distance and the cliff distance of each of the 3D points are combined to determine a distance from each 3D point to the 3D surface so that the distances forming a distance field of the edited 3D model.

Abstract: A method is described for determining a 2D gradient magnitude image from a range image of an object. The range image includes intensity values at pixel locations. The intensity values correspond to distances to a surface of the object. For each pixel (i,j) in the range image, a horizontal central difference dx value and a vertical central difference dy value are determined. Then, the 2D gradient magnitude image value at each pixel (i,j) is set to 0.5*sqrt(dx2+dy2+4). The range image can be scaled so that a unit intensity value at each pixel corresponds to a unit distance value. The magnitude of a gradient at a 3D point p can then be determined from the scaled range image and the gradient magnitude image. First, a perpendicular projection (x,y) of p onto the scaled range image is computed. Next, a gradient magnitude at (x,y) is interpolated from the corresponding values of the 2D gradient magnitude image near the location (x,y).

Abstract: A assembly that modifies the frame rate of a 3D video signal and corresponding method are disclosed. The frame rate of the video signal can be increased by clocking a video encoder at a desired clock rate. When viewing a display of the video signal with the increased frame rate through a pair of stereo glasses, the perception of flicker can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An object finder program for detecting presence of a 3D object in a 2D image containing a 2D representation of the 3D object. The object finder uses the wavelet transform of the input 2D image for object detection. A pre-selected number of view-based detectors are trained on sample images prior to performing the detection on an unknown image. These detectors then operate on the given input image and compute a quantized wavelet transform for the entire input image. The object detection then proceeds with sampling of the quantized wavelet coefficients at different image window locations on the input image and efficient look-up of pre-computed log-likelihood tables to determine object presence. The object finder's coarse-to-fine object detection strategy coupled with exhaustive object search across different positions and scales results in an efficient and accurate object detection scheme. The object finder detects a 3D object over a wide range in angular variation (e.g.

Abstract: A first and a second, distinguishable set of images are projected onto a surface, each image having a corresponding source element with known two-dimensional coordinates relative to the projector. A pose is determined of spaced two cameras in position to image at least a portion of the surface. The three-dimensional coordinates of at least some of the first set of images are determined with the cameras, from which are calculated an initial pose of the projector. Each of the at least some of the first set of images are matched with a corresponding source element, from which matching an improved projector pose is determined. The three-dimensional coordinates of at least some of the second set of images are determined using the improved projector pose and the cameras, and the surface is characterized from the three-dimensional coordinates of the first and the second set of images.

Abstract: This image processing device comprises a distance image capture device which captures a distance image based upon three dimensional coordinate values obtained for various points upon object surfaces by a distance sensor; a plane detection device which detects planes from said three dimensional coordinate values upon said object surfaces obtained from said distance image; an edge detection device which detects edges from said distance image; a singular spot decision device which decides whether or not said edges include singular spots, according to whether or not the edges which have been detected by said edge detection device and the planes which have been detected by said plane detection device satisfy predetermined conditions; and a singular spot map storage device which stores said singular spots, based upon the results from said singular spot decision device.

Abstract: A non-invasive longitudinal method that is sensitive and objective for quantifying progressive loss of neurons in normal aging brains and brains that suffer from a neurodegenerative disease is provided. The method also provides clinicians, patients and drug companies with a method for evaluating the efficacy of various treatments and interventions by assessing a change in brain integrity. The method determines and localizes a change in brain integrity in a compartment of a brain from at least structural images and metabolite brain images, which are acquired for at least two time instances. The time period between two time instances is dependent on the disease pathology and disease progression and could, for instance, be at least 3 months between time instances as well as at least 6 or 12 months between time instances.

Abstract: A method and arrangement are disclosed for increasing the depth contrast in microscope imaging. The method and implementation described can be designated as structured illumination for generating quasi-confocal optical sections. In implementing the method, a grating structure located in the field diaphragm plane of a microscope, the object plane and the TV intermediate image plane of a microscope are arranged confocally. The term “confocally” refers to the fact that the grating, object and the intermediate image plane are positioned on optically conjugate planes. By this arrangement, the grating structure is projected in the object plane of the microscope and the object which is structured in this way is imaged in the TV intermediate image plane of the microscope by the optical system following it. Optical sections are generated by calculating the modulation depth of the structured object.