Abstract: A method for optimizing a display image based on display content is provided. The method is applicable to a display control chip, and includes following operations: receiving a video signal configured to transmit an image of a frame; with respect to multiple different sub-areas in an area of the image, calculating a pixel number distribution of each sub-area along multiple characteristic values; determining, according to the pixel number distribution, whether the sub-area comprises a corresponding first target pattern of multiple first target patterns; if the multiple sub-areas comprise the multiple first target patterns, respectively, performing a first preset image processing to the image to generate a processed image; if the multiple sub-areas are free from comprising the multiple first target patterns, respectively, omitting the first preset image processing to the image; and generating a display signal according to the processed image or the image.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes receiving, by a processing device, a plurality of images of a test assembly. The processing device selects a component in the test assembly and an image of the plurality of images of the test assembly as received. For the component as selected and the image as selected, the processing device compares a plurality of portions of the image as selected to a corresponding plurality of portions of a corresponding profile image and computing a matching score for each of the plurality of portions. The processing device selects a largest matching score from the matching score for each of the plurality of portions as a first matching score for the component as selected and the image as selected. The first matching score is stored for the component as selected and the image as selected.

Abstract: A system for validating installation correctness of a component in a test assembly includes a housing having a platform including a tiered surface. The tiered surface forms an abutment surface configured as a stop against which a test assembly is abutted. A plurality of cameras is positioned to capture different views of the test assembly. A processing device is configured to execute instructions to capture an image from each of the plurality of cameras of the test assembly that includes a plurality of components. Each of the plurality of components is analyzed within each image of the plurality of images. A matching score is determined and an indication of whether the plurality of components was correctly installed in the test assembly is generated.

Abstract: A component mounter images suction states of components picked up by a suction nozzle, processes images of the suction states of the components to recognize the suction state of the component, and stores the images in a storage device with linking production information related to the components. An inspection machine images a mounted state of each component on a board, processes an image of mounted state of each component to recognize the mounted state of each component, and inspects whether a mounting error occurred for each component based on the recognition result. The inspection machine determines that a mounting error occurred for any of the components the image of the mounted state of the component for which a mounting error was determined to have occurred and a searched image of the suction state of the component are displayed on the display monitor in a comparative manner.

Abstract: To provide a method for firing a copper paste, which improves sinterability of copper particles for the purpose of forming a copper wiring line that is decreased in the electrical conductivity. A method for firing a copper paste, which comprises: an application step wherein a copper paste is applied over a substrate; a first heating step wherein the substrate is heated in a nitrogen gas atmosphere containing from 500 ppm to 2,000 ppm (inclusive) of an oxidizing gas in terms of volume ratio after the application step, thereby oxidizing and sintering copper particles in the copper paste; and a second heating step wherein the substrate is heated in a nitrogen gas atmosphere containing 1% or more of a reducing gas in terms of volume ratio after the first heating step, thereby reducing the oxidized and sintered copper oxide.

Abstract: In order to identify scan coordinate values (?n, ?n) for operating a scanning unit (28) of a confocal scanning microscope (20), spherical scan coordinate values (?n, ?n) are identified, as a function of Cartesian image coordinates (Xn, Yn) of image points of an image (60) to be created of a sample (32), with the aid of a coordinate transformation of the Cartesian image coordinate values (Xn, Yn) into a spherical coordinate system. The scanning unit (28) is operated as a function of the spherical scan coordinate values (?n, ?n).

Abstract: An image inputter inputs image data in which a user has been captured. An extractor extracts a region corresponding to a hand of the user included in the image data input by the image inputter. A determinator determines whether or not the region corresponding to the hand of the user extracted by the extractor is in a stationary state. If it is determined by the determinator that the region corresponding to the hand of the user is in a stationary state, a recognizer recognizes the shape of the region corresponding to the hand of the user extracted by the extractor. Otherwise, if it is determined by the determinator that the region corresponding to the hand of the user is not in a stationary state, the recognizer recognizes the movement of the region corresponding to the hand of the user extracted by the extractor. An inputter inputs data associated with the shape or the movement recognized by the recognizer.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and locating instances of a shape under large variations in linear degrees of freedom is provided. The invention extracts boundary segments from an image and generates potential match candidates for boundary models based on the extracted boundary segments. The invention also extracts skeletal segments from the obtained image. Potential match candidates are then generated for skeletal models based on the extracted skeletal segments. Once the match candidates for the boundary models and skeletal models have been generated, the present invention then corresponds the various boundary segments and outputs a best correspondence. The output from the present invention may be utilized by a user to signify acceptance of the various correspondences located by the present invention. These correspondences may then be utilized to train a machine vision system.

Abstract: Control exposure techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a determination is made by a computing device as to which of a plurality of controls correspond to one or more inputs detected using one or more magnetometers, cameras, or microphones. A result of the determination is exposed by the computing device to one or more applications that are executed by the computing device.

Abstract: A method for calculating a centreline of an object is disclosed. An image of the object is divided into test areas. For each test area, detection direction and scanning direction are assigned from a list of limited directions. For each test area, at each scanning point a local point of the centreline is determined along the detection direction. An assigned smoothing function is applied to the collection of local points to determine the collection of pixels which define the centreline. The collection of pixels can be used to calculate the length of the centreline. Also, the coordinates of the pixels of the centreline can be used to average the intensity of the image along the centreline.

Abstract: A method for aligning and unwarping distorted images in which lens profiles for a variety of lens and camera combinations are precomputed. Metadata stored with images is used to automatically determine if a set of component images include an excessive amount of distortion, and if so the metadata is used to determine an appropriate lens profile and initial unwarping function. The initial unwarping function is applied to the coordinates of feature points of the component images to generate substantially rectilinear feature points, which are used to estimate focal lengths, centers, and relative rotations for pairs of the images. A global nonlinear optimization is applied to the initial unwarping function(s) and the relative rotations to generate optimized unwarping functions and rotations for the component images. The optimized unwarping functions and rotations may be used to render a panoramic image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a cluster of objects. A path for a center of mass for the cluster of objects is identified using a sequence of frames of sensor data generated by a sensor system. The path is identified with respect to a coordinate system for the sensor data. A relative path for each object in the cluster of objects is identified with respect to the coordinate system for the sensor data. The relative path is relative to the path for the center of mass for the cluster of objects. A final path for each object in the cluster of objects is identified with respect to the coordinate system for the sensor data using the path for the center of mass for the cluster of objects and the relative path for each object in the cluster of objects.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and an information processing method including a deformation shape model generation unit configured to generate, from information about a first shape and a first position of a feature region in a target object under a first deformation condition, a deformation of the first shape with the position of the feature region as a reference as a model, and a deformation estimation unit configured to, based on information about a second shape and a second position corresponding to the feature region in the target object under the second deformation condition, align the first position with the second position to estimate deformation from the first shape to the second shape using the model.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrally bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine according to one aspect, includes a 3-dimensional scanning process to generate a 3-dimensional profile of individual blades before being welded to the disc of the rotor. A blade distribution pattern on the disc is then determined in a computing process using data of the 3-dimensional profile of the individual blades such that the fabricated integrally bladed rotor is balanced.

Abstract: In one embodiment an electronic device comprises an input/output module, a memory coupled to the input/output module, and logic to store a first image of a face in the memory module, associate an identity with the first image of a face, subsequently collect a second image of a face, determine a correlation between features on the first image of a face and the second image of a face, and store the correlation between the first image and the second image. Other embodiments may be described.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting features from a video includes a frame rate converter for performing a frame rate conversion on the video to a preset frame rate, a gray scale converter for performing a grey scale conversion on the frame rate-converted video, a frame size normalizer for performing a frame size normalization on the gray scale-converted video to a preset image size, and a feature extractor for partitioning the normalized video into image blocks of a predetermined size, and extracting features from the image blocks on the basis of luminance values of the image blocks. A video identification system employs the feature extracting apparatus to identify an original video and an object video.

Abstract: Virtual controllers for visual displays are described. In one implementation, a camera captures an image of hands against a background. The image is segmented into hand areas and background areas. Various hand and finger gestures isolate parts of the background into independent areas, which are then assigned control parameters for manipulating the visual display. Multiple control parameters can be associated with attributes of multiple independent areas formed by two hands, for advanced control including simultaneous functions of clicking, selecting, executing, horizontal movement, vertical movement, scrolling, dragging, rotational movement, zooming, maximizing, minimizing, executing file functions, and executing menu choices.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of detecting location of object contained in image data and its detecting method are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an image capturing module, a weight assignment module, and a processing module. The image capturing module is for capturing an image. The weight assignment module performs the pixel weight/probability assignment according to the priori information and the image, and figures out the initial gravity center of the object according to the object location initialization. The processing module performs the statistical analysis according to the result of the pixel weight/probability assignment and the initial gravity center of the object so as to obtain the analysis result and update the object location. The processing module determines whether or not the analysis result meets the preset value, if it does, the processing module outputs an estimated result; if it doesn't, the processing module repeats the foregoing processes.

Abstract: A scanning electron microscope comprises an image processing system for carrying out a pattern matching between a first image and a second image. The image processing system comprises: a paint-divided image generator for generating a paint divided image based on the first image; a gravity point distribution image generator for carrying out a smoothing process of the paint divided image and generating a gravity point distribution image; an edge line segment group generation unit for generating a group of edge line segments based on the second image; a matching score calculation unit for calculating a matching score based on the gravity point distribution image and the group of edge line segments; and a maximum score position detection unit for detecting a position where the matching score becomes the maximum.

Abstract: A novel search method having an advantage over the DSR 472 method the search accuracy of which is currently said to be the highest level is proposed. At the feature value computation stage, the two-dimensional image used in computation of the three-dimensional model feature value (excluding a contour feature value) is corrected so that the gray scales of the pixels are emphasized more as the distance from the center of the two-dimensional image increases.

Abstract: A moving image sequence is automatically reframed for a small display. The framing is adjusted in dependence upon foreground and background segment weights derived for pixels in images in the sequence. Reframed images are formed from only those input pixels which fall within a reframing window within the input image area and the position or size of the reframing window is adjusted so as to maximize a weighted total of the sum of the foreground weights of pixels within the window and the sum of the background weights of pixels outside the window.

Abstract: An acceptor device for sheet objects such as banknotes, comprises a sensor to derive data corresponding to a spatial array of data samples from a face of a sheet object, said data being configured in a sampling frame that lies within a range of positional relationships to a reference frame. The acceptor device also comprises a processor operable to process the data to determine the relationship between the reference frame and the sampling frame for the sensed data, and being operable to transform pre-selected regions of the sensed data from the sampling frame so as to correspond to data in the reference frame, and to make a comparison of the transformed data with reference data corresponding to the pre-selected regions in the reference frame and to the sheet object depending on the outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: A method for aligning and unwarping distorted images in which lens profiles for a variety of lens and camera combinations are precomputed. Metadata stored with images is used to automatically determine if a set of component images include an excessive amount of distortion, and if so the metadata is used to determine an appropriate lens profile and initial unwarping function. The initial unwarping function is applied to the coordinates of feature points of the component images to generate substantially rectilinear feature points, which are used to estimate focal lengths, centers, and relative rotations for pairs of the images. A global nonlinear optimization is applied to the initial unwarping function(s) and the relative rotations to generate optimized unwarping functions and rotations for the component images. The optimized unwarping functions and rotations may be used to render a panoramic image.

Abstract: The image analysis system includes a processor and memory and displays an image to a first user. The image analysis system tracks gaze of the first user and collects initial gaze data for the first user. The initial gaze data includes a plurality of gaze points. The image analysis system identifies one or more ignored regions of the image based on a distribution of the gaze data within the image; and displays at least a first subset of the image. The first subset of the image is selected so as to include a respective ignored region of the one or more ignored regions and the first subset of the image is displayed in a manner that draws attention to the respective ignored region. In some embodiments, the ignored region is visually emphasized within the image. In some embodiments, only the first subset of the image is displayed.

Abstract: A method to find symmetries along curved paths in input scenes. The method may detect a curve in an input scene and one or more elements on that curve. The method may define and group points for the one or more element on the curve, and define a centroid for each group. The method may then parameterize a transformation in transformation space between each centroid pair in the input scene. The method may then extract transformation paths by clustering points. The method may create phantom objects in case of mirroring along curved paths to help detect the curved paths.

Abstract: Methods and systems for equalizing a holographic image page and for compensating nonlinearity of a holographic data storage channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for equalizing a holographic image page includes receiving the holographic image page and dividing the holographic image page into a plurality of local image regions. The method further includes generating a local alignment error vector for each local image region, computing a local finite impulse response kernel for each local image region according to the corresponding local alignment error vector, and adjusting misaligned pixels of each local image region using the corresponding local finite impulse response kernel.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for accurately characterizing a tooth's movement. One method embodiment includes associating an abnormal tooth shape with a model tooth shape from a reference library of model tooth shapes, mapping a predefined dental reference from the model tooth shape onto at least a portion of the abnormal tooth shape, and adding a location of the predefined dental reference to the abnormal tooth shape based on the mapped predefined dental reference from the model tooth shape.

Abstract: A method for constructing a georeferencing-enabled camera model and its deployment in georeferencing targets located in video sequences due to a single video camera. A video surveillance camera is modeled by a collection of rays converging at a virtual camera point and the retina resolution cell coordinates associated with those rays wherein the ray equations are first established, in the course of a calibration process, for a given camera view, with the aid of other views of the same video surveillance camera, as necessary, and using such a model for mapping image coordinates to terrain coordinates and vice versa in the intended view or its adaptation for use in other views of the same video surveillance camera.

Abstract: A method for determining a centroid coordinate of an image spot, comprising a) determining a search region having a border, b) identifying a first pixel in the search region, the pixel having a first intensity value, c) determining an upper threshold intensity value greater than the first intensity value, d) searching for a second pixel within the search region having an intensity value that is greater than the upper threshold intensity value, and e) upon finding the second pixel, designating the first pixel an integration region center.

Abstract: A spatial motion calculation apparatus includes an image position relation calculation unit that calculates first similarities based on an image position relation between an inputted groups of feature points 1 and 2, a spatial position relation calculation unit that calculates second similarities based on an spatial position relation between said inputted groups, a feature descriptor relation calculation unit that calculates third similarities based on a feature descriptor relation between said inputted groups, and a spatial motion calculation unit that estimates the spatial motion based on the result that integrates the first to third similarities.

Abstract: Multipoint tracking is performed by receiving raw data of an image, calculating line average values for a plurality of lines of the raw data, filtering the raw data according to the line average values to generate filtered data, performing a dilation algorithm on the filtered data to generate dilated data, performing an erosion algorithm on the dilated data to generate eroded data, performing edge detection on the eroded data for identifying touch regions of the raw data, performing a labeling algorithm on the touch regions, calculating centers of gravity for the touch regions, and generating a multipoint tracking result according to the centers of gravity.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method for identifying an object in an image includes steps of determining a center of the object; calculating a radius for scanning the image; scanning along a scan circle defined by the center and the radius; and identifying the object according to scanned data of the image along the scan circle.

Abstract: A method detects a center of a wafer having a notch when aligning the wafer mounted on a movable mounting table. The method includes capturing an image of the wafer by using an imaging unit, the image including the notch; extracting an edge line from the image of the wafer; detecting a shape of the notch from the edge line; and calculating the center of the wafer based on the shape of the notch.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up objects including a robot for picking up an object, at least one part of the object having a curved shape, having a storing means for storing a gray gradient distribution model of the object, a recognizing means for recognizing a gray image of the object, a gradient extracting means for extracting a gray gradient distribution from the gray image recognized by the recognizing means, an object detecting means for detecting a position or position posture of the object in the gray image in accordance with the gray gradient distribution extracted by the gradient extracting means and the gray gradient distribution model stored by the storing means, a detection information converting means for converting information of the position or position posture detected by the object detecting means into information of position or position posture in a coordinate system regarding the robot; and a robot moving means for moving the robot to the position or position posture converted by the detection

Abstract: A scanning electron microscope comprises an image processing system for carrying out a pattern matching between a first image and a second image. The image processing system comprises: a paint-divided image generator for generating a paint divided image based on the first image; a gravity point distribution image generator for carrying out a smoothing process of the paint divided image and generating a gravity point distribution image; an edge line segment group generation unit for generating a group of edge line segments based on the second image; a matching score calculation unit for calculating a matching score based on the gravity point distribution image and the group of edge line segments; and a maximum score position detection unit for detecting a position where the matching score becomes the maximum.

Abstract: Image resizing for web-based searching is described. In one implementation, a system resizes a user-selected thumbnail image into a larger version of the image that emulates the quality of a large, original image, but without downloading the original image. First, the system extracts resizing parameters when each thumbnail image is created. Then, the system creates a codebook of primitive visual elements extracted from a collection of training images. The primitive visual elements in the codebook provide universal visual parts for reconstructing images. The codebook and a resizing plug-in can be sent once to the user over a background channel. When the user selects a thumbnail image for enlargement, the system resizes the thumbnail image via interpolation and then refines the enlarged image with primitive visual elements from the codebook. The refinement creates an enlarged image that emulates the quality of the large, original image, without downloading the original image.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rapid and high precision centroiding method for spots image comprising the following steps. First, the method requires convoluting the gray value of a pixel with a Gaussian filter and judging whether the result thereof exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the method requires marking the current pixel with a flag to identify which spot it belongs to, and then accumulating the product of the gray value and a coordinate value of the same spot; and at the same time, accumulating the gray value of the same spot; and saving the results of the accumulation respectively. If the gray value of the pixel does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the method requires marking the current pixel as a background flag.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for encoding/decoding data in a cover contone image via halftone dot orientation modulation. Arrays of halftone threshold values are used to determine a desired orientation, e.g. 0/90°+/?45° for a given single data value of the original message to be embedded. Message data is embedded as a function of halftone dot orientation. Detection modeling of the print-scan process enables the determination of dot orientation from the image scan via statistically motivated image moments. A probabilistic model of the print-scan channel conditions received moments on input orientation. Density values of the received moments are used to determine dot orientation for each halftone cell. The embedded data is retrieved based on the determined orientations. The present method is applicable to areas of data embedding, document security, and the like.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus localize an object part location in a digital image. The method according to one embodiment accesses digital image data containing an object part; obtains an initial position estimate for object part location of the object part; extracts a sub-image window around the initial position estimate of the object part location; calculates feature values based on pixel values within the sub-image window; and determines an updated position estimate for the object part location based on the calculated feature values.

Abstract: A system and method for vertebrae and intervertebral disc localization in magnetic resonance (MR) images is disclosed. In this method, a target spine MR image is segmented by generating a binary segmentation. A spinal cord line is then estimated on the segmented image. Neighboring vertebrae in a region of interest around the estimated spinal cord line are then localized by labeling vertebral regions based on characteristics, such as size and shape, of regions of connected segmented pixels within the regions of interest. A center point of an intervertebral disc between the neighboring vertebrae is then calculated by finding a point halfway between respective borders of the vertebral regions on a line connecting the centers of mass of the vertebral regions.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the invention provide for assigning coordinates to samples in an array. The method is based on a hierarchical pattern matching to a local lattice structure that is used as a template. Starting from the best local match, the pattern is expanded hierarchically to encompass the entire array.

Abstract: A number of wafer center finding methods and systems are disclosed herein that improve upon existing techniques used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the center of a rotationally symmetrical alignment mark thereby using an image recognition software. The alignment mark is recognized by the image recognition software in different orientations by rotating the alignment mark around a symmetry angle with respect to which the alignment mark is rotationally symmetrical, and respective reference points are determined. The center of rotation of the determined reference points corresponds to the center of the alignment mark. Moreover, the invention provides a method for aligning two flat substrates each having a rotationally symmetrical alignment mark and being arranged substantially parallel with respect to each other.

Abstract: An object velocity measuring apparatus of this invention for measuring an object velocity in a photographic field from a plurality of photographic frames made up of a plurality of pixels comprises an object area extracting unit configured to extract, as an object area, a set of pixels from which an object has been sensed over at least M (M<N) of N successive frames including the present frame, a center-of-gravity computing unit configured to calculate the center-of-gravity position coordinates of the extracted object area in the photographic field, and a velocity computing unit configured to calculate the object velocity from the movement of the calculated center-of-gravity position coordinates between different frames.

Abstract: A processing system and method for producing formatted information related to appliances of an appliance chain. This appliance chain includes at least one image-capture appliance and/or at least one image-restitution appliance for capturing and/or restituting an image on a medium. The system and method produce formatted information related to geometric distortions of at least one appliance of the chain. Fixed characteristics of the appliances and/or variable characteristics depending on the image can be taken into account. The fixed characteristics and/or the variable characteristics can be associated with one or more characteristic values, especially the focal length and/or the focusing. Then, measured formatted information related to the geometric distortions of the appliance are produced from a measured field. The system and method are applicable to photographic or video image processing, in optical devices, industrial controls, robotics, metrology, etc.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method for identifying an object in an image includes steps of determining a center of the object; calculating a radius for scanning the image; scanning along a scan circle defined by the center and the radius; and identifying the object according to scanned data of the image along the scan circle.

Abstract: When the image data having a predetermined gradation value for each pixel is input, and the image data is searched from the initial pixel and the total of the gradation values of the pixels, including the searched pixels, becomes a predetermined threshold value or more, a dot is generated at the center of the gravity position as a quantized pixel group. In the searching, an unprocessed pixel closest to the center of gravity position, including this pixel, is selected. If there are a plurality of unprocessed pixels, selection is performed at random. For the pixel selection, a pixel closest to the center position computed from the positional coordinates may be selected, rather than the center of gravity. Also a dot may be generated at the center position of the quantized pixel group.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the invention provide for assigning coordinates to samples in an array. The method is based on a hierarchical pattern matching to a local lattice structure that is used as a template. Starting from the best local match, the pattern is expanded hierarchically to encompass the entire array.

Abstract: An object velocity measuring apparatus of this invention for measuring an object velocity in a photographic field from a plurality of photographic frames made up of a plurality of pixels comprises an object area extracting unit configured to extract, as an object area, a set of pixels from which an object has been sensed over at least M (M<N) of N successive frames including the present frame, a center-of-gravity computing unit configured to calculate the center-of-gravity position coordinates of the extracted object area in the photographic field, and a velocity computing unit configured to calculate the object velocity from the movement of the calculated center-of-gravity position coordinates between different frames.

Abstract: A method for detection and identification of regions of concern in multidimensional intensity images using a template and a nonparametric test is presented. Data corresponding to background intensity is extracted from the outer region of the template while data for mass detection is extracted from the inner region. The statistical nature of the background intensity, specifically the tail structure of the unknown distribution, is estimated via tolerance intervals. Mass detection is based on the fraction of test data within the tail structure.