Abstract: A method includes setting lead eye boxes and lead eye points on a gate and a support bar of a lead frame, before clamping the lead frame, and determining whether or not the lead frame is seated in an exact first position. The lead eye boxes and the lead eye points are again set on the gate and the support bar, after clamping the lead frame, and it is redetermined whether or not the lead frame is seated in the exact first position. The positions of leads of the lead frame are captured and memorized. Die eye boxes and die eye points are set on specific patterns of a die and it is determined whether or not the die is mounted in an exact second position.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of locating an object within a client region, where the object has a plurality of portions. The method includes defining a full geometric model of the object; defining a plurality of geometric sub-models of the object; determining coarse candidate poses of the object within the region using an image of the region and the full geometric model of the object; determining the fine pose of each of a plurality of portions of the object using the coarse candidate poses of the object within the region, and at least some of said geometric sub-models, to provide a plurality of object portion fine poses within the region; and then determining the fine poses of the object within the region using said plurality of object portion fine poses of a plurality of portions of the object includes determining the coarse poses of each of a plurality of portions of the object, and using each coarse pose, determining the fine pose of each of the plurality of portions of the object.

Abstract: A flying sphere is photographed twice at a predetermined time interval and two static images thus obtained are used to measure a rotation of the sphere through an image processing based on a recognition mark of a surface of the sphere. The recognition mark includes a central mark (13) having a directivity and a rotating angle calculating mark (15) provided to surround the central mark (13). The central mark (13) includes a rectangle (17) and a circle (19) provided apart from the rectangle (17) adjacently to one of short sides of the rectangle (17). Three or more rotating angle calculating marks (15) are provided. Respective center positions of the rotating angle calculating marks (15) are present in a region provided apart from a center position of the central mark (13) by 13 mm to 17 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming and color correcting system. The system includes an image forming apparatus and a method for correcting halftone color in an image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes an image reading unit, an image forming unit and a parameter sensing unit. The units of the apparatus are controlled such that halftone color of a scanned document image are corrected when a parameter of the document is inside a predetermined range and a warning is given when the parameter is outside the predetermined range.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for determining alignment parameters (rotation angle and translation vector) between two images of scene based on the attributes of segments associated with a pair of corresponding points, each point extracted from each of the images.

Abstract: A system and method is described for automatically determining in a scanned document image the presence of unwanted extraneous information caused by an extraneous device and scanner background information. Once the presence of this information is determined, the system and method of the present invention can compute, for instance, skew and crop statistics. From this, the image can be automatically deskewed and cropped appropriately without the background and extraneous information. The system and method accomplishes this by first determining the presence of unwanted extraneous and background information and then appropriately processing the document image. The extraneous information is ignored during deskew and crop computations. Also, the scanner background and the extraneous information are prevented from being included in the final digital representation of the image.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the rotational orientation of an object. An image of the object is digitally captured. The digital image is filtered through an edge detection operation to enhance the edge information contained in the image. The filtered image is rotated through a series of incremental angles to produce a series of rotated images. Each rotated image is projected onto an x-axis and y-axis defined by pixel grid axes defined by the original image. The projection of the rotated images produces projected pixel counts formed by the summation of pixel value differences of the x-axis and y-axis on the projected image. For each rotated image, a score corresponding to the sum of the difference of gray-scale values for adjacent projected pixels is computed. The scores for the projections of each rotated image are plotted on a score-angle graph. A curve which includes the highest score and the neighboring next highest scores is interpolated to determine the peak score.

Abstract: A digital camera which performs accurate document reading, and is used in a document processing system. In the document processing system, a document is divided into blocks and each block is sensed by a CCD, and perspective correction is performed on the image data of each of a plurality of images obtained by divisionally sensing the document. An OCR process is performed on the corrected image data to convert the corrected image data to text data. The converted text data, corresponding to the image data of each of the plurality of images, is combined into one text data, and the combined text data is output for printing.

Abstract: An image processor performs a high accuracy orientation determination process on a color image. A color component analyzer determines a frequency of appearance of each color component based on color image data of an input original document, and an orientation determining block determines the orientation of the original document by a character recognition process based on the frequency of appearance result. The color image data is then subjected to a predetermined editing in accordance with the determination results, and the edited image data is output.

Abstract: A subject inclination detector provided with: a display for displaying on a screen a subject image comprising a plurality of pixels; a pixel specifier for a user to specify a first pixel from among the pixels; a calculator for defining a pixel group constituting a circumference of an area including the specified first pixel, and calculating deviations in pixel value between adjoining pixels of the pixel group; and a detector for selecting a second pixel and a third pixel based on the calculated deviations, and detecting an inclination of a straight part of the subject based on the selected second and third pixels.

Abstract: A reliable estimate of image pixel (fingerprint ridge) orientations, and block orientations for a given block is determined by finding an optimal block size in an area of an image, e.g., a fingerprint image. An initial block size is chosen. Then a block direction is determined, e.g., by analyzing intensity gradients in two directions, preferably two orthogonal directions, at a plurality (preferably all) of the pixels locations in the block. Block directions of blocks in a given area of the images (fingerprint) are compared. If the compared directions are within a tolerance of one another, the determined direction of the block is considered correct. However, if the compared directions are not within a tolerance of one another, the block size is changed and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A digital image processing method and system is adapted to remove diagonally disposed artifacts such as lines, dots, dashes etc., from a scanned skew corrected document or image. The system and method converts a captured skew corrected image into first and second binary images and generates a map indicative of a difference between the first and second binary images. Black pixels in the map are projected based on a skew angle of the image to form a projection profile, and an image based on the map, detected peaks in the projection profile and the pixels is created.

Abstract: A system and method is described for automatically determining in a scanned document image the presence of unwanted extraneous information caused by an extraneous device and scanner background information. Once the presence of this information is determined, the system and method of the present invention can compute, for instance, skew and crop statistics. From this, the image can be automatically deskewed and cropped appropriately without the background and extraneous information. The system and method accomplishes this by first determining the presence of unwanted extraneous and background information and then appropriately processing the document image. The extraneous information is ignored during deskew and crop computations. Also, the scanner background and the extraneous information are prevented from being included in the final digital representation of the image.

Abstract: A method and system of measuring misalignment between two levels wherein there is provided a first grating pattern (19, 21, 23, 25, 3, 5, 7, 9) on a first layer (1) and a second grating pattern (19′, 21′, 23′, 25′, 3′, 5′, 7′, 9′) on a second layer (41) capable of providing Moire fringes when disposed over the first grating pattern and which is disposed over the first grating pattern whereby the first and second grating patterns are capable of providing Moire fringes. Misalignment of the first layer relative to the second layer is measured from the position of the Moire fringe provided by the first and second grating patterns either visually or by optical instrumentation. The second layer is preferably transparent.

Abstract: A system and method are providing for implementing the blanking of an image of a skewed original document in a full image area where the blanking region is adjusted line-by-line and pixel-by-pixel, allowing an edge at an arbitrary angle to be masked. This system and method allow for skew blanking regions surrounding an image of a skewed original document so that no data from the original document is lost, by initially reducing the image of the original document to fit in the full image area, and all background artifacts from the platen show through and dirt from the top cover of the digital copier are removed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus automatically identifying top and bottom of document image based on characteristics with regard to shapes or positions of data, etc. recorded on document. Distribution states of pixel cumulative values in main scanning direction and sub scanning direction of image signals provided by scanning the document, are analyzed and top and bottom of the document image is identified from the result of analysis. Further, it is possible to identify the top and bottom of the document image by analyzing the distribution states the pixel cumulative values in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction of the image signals and identifying letter series regions and line segment regions displaced therefrom.

Abstract: Black pixels of image signals are expanded, a plurality of black pixel regions obtained by expanding the black pixels are connected to each other, and the circumscribing rectangles of the connected regions are extracted. In accordance with characteristics of the positions and sizes of the extracted circumscribing rectangles and the direction of characters in the circumscribing rectangles, whether the direction of the image is longitudinal or lateral and whether the image faces upwards or downwards are determined. In accordance with a result of the determination, configuration of the plural original document images on a sheet is decided. The plural original documents are combined into one composite image with the decided configuration. Therefore, a required copy output can be obtained regardless of the direction of the original document employed by a user and the direction of the original document set by the same.

Abstract: An image recognition apparatus for recognizing a specific image in an object image using image signals of the object image, the specific image having a possibility of being rotated. The image recognition apparatus includes an image information extraction unit for extracting an object image from the image signals as a candidate for recognition of the specific image and for extracting feature values from the object image using the image signals, and a match determining device coupled to the image information extraction unit for recognizing the specific image in the object image by a comparison of the extracted feature values from the object image with reference data for the specific image. The match determining device is controlled using the reference data according to an easy to determine rotation characteristic and difficult to determine rotation characteristic in the reference data for the specific image.

Abstract: A method for determining the boundaries of a symbol or word string within an image, including the steps of determining page orientation, isolating symbol strings from adjacent symbol strings, establishing a set of boundaries or references with respect to which measurements about, or further processing of, the symbol string may be made.

Abstract: An external appearance inspection method for electronic components for detecting the presence of unevenness in the outline thereof. An approximately square-shaped outline (1) of an electronic component under inspection is extracted, this outline (1) is differentiated, and the presence of unevenness in the outline (1) is determined according to the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum values (10, 11) of the differential values and the median (12) thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the location and orientation of a reference feature in an image is provided. At train-time, a template image is created for use during the run-time phase. At run-time, a reference feature is located by first determining the principal angle of the reference feature. In a preferred embodiment, the principal angle &thgr; of the reference feature is found by partitioning the reference feature into a plurality of regions, projecting each of the regions at 0°, and performing template matching with a template image to determine the position of a plurality of points along a principal axis of the reference feature.

Abstract: An image pattern recognition process and system recognize a rotated predetermined image pattern with reduced processing time and memory requirements based upon the efficient use of the Zernike Moment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring rotation quantity of a spherical object. A recording device photographs and records a rotating spherical object from one definite direction as a plurality of stationary circular images at definite intervals. An instrumentation device measures positions of definite two points in each of the recorded stationary circular images. An arithmetic unit calculates rotation quantity of the spherical object on each axis of a three-dimensional coordinate-system on the basis of the positions of the two points in each of the stationary circular images.

Abstract: To provide an on-line character recognition system which can recognize hand-written character patterns correctly by normalizing inclination of input character patterns without additional burden to the user, an on-line character recognition system comprises; a pen-based input device which outputs inclination angle information of its stylus pen together with pattern data, a slant angle detector for obtaining a slant angle of the stylus pen representing an angle of vertical projection of the stylus pen, a slant angle register for storing a standard slant angle, a slant compensation section for outputting compensated data set by compensating the pattern data making use of the slant angle and the standard slant angle, and a character recognition section for recognizing a character from the compensated data set.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for increasing print performance for rotated digital images are described. A method aspect, and system for providing same, includes analyzing a selected image print layout to determine at least a number and size of rotated images in the selected image print layout. Further included is allocating available rotate buffer space to the rotated images based on at least the number and size of the rotated images, and executing band printing of the selected print layout.

Abstract: Inventive two-dimensional barcodes, each having encoded digital information in a bitmap representing preferably randomized encoded data bits, are printed onto a printed medium. Preferably, error correction codes are added to the digital information to ensure that the decoding process accurately reproduce the digital information. In one embodiment, the bitmap may further include “anchor” bits in each corner, which are used as part of the skew estimation and deskewing processes during decoding. In a second embodiment, no “anchor” bits are required. The encoded digital information is mapped into the two-dimensional barcode in such a way as to minimize the errors caused by damage to particular rows and/or columns, for example, row damage caused by faxing the printed barcode. To extract the encoded digital information from the printed medium, the printed medium is scanned, then the bitmap is located within the printed medium.

Abstract: A memory is divided into several blocks in advance for storing calibrated pixels in sequence. Then, start to check each pixel row by row. The obliquity ratio of each pixel will be computed based on two referential blocks on the two sides of the calibration paper. The obliquity ratio will then divided by the length of one pixel. If the residue of the division is larger than half the length of the pixel, it indicates that that pixel is the beginning of next block. Following this rule, we can divide each row into several blocks. The skew pixels will be calibrated according to a first calibration procedure and a second calibration procedure. The calibrated pixels will be stored in the memory blocks in sequence according to their block numbers. After all the pixels of the same row have been calibrated, the calibrated pixels will be read from the memory blocks in sequence. The calibrated procedure repeats until each row of the image has been calibrated.

Abstract: When a host transfers only an image to a printing apparatus to make it print out the image, a heavy load is imposed on the host, and the data size to be transferred is large, resulting in a long processing time. To prevent this, when a document is to be printed, the driver on a host sends character codes of characters that occur for the first time in that document and corresponding character images to the printer in advance, and registers them. After this process, the driver transmits, to the printer, characters as character codes, ruled lines as coordinate data representing their corner points, and data other than characters and ruled lines as mapped images. The printer maps an image on a page memory, maps characters as images with reference to the registered character codes and images, and superposes the mapped character images on the image mapped on the page memory. Also, the printer maps ruled lines based on their vertex positions, and synthesizes them on the already mapped image.

Abstract: An anti-counterfeit currency detection method is disclosed wherein local edge information is utilized for accurately detecting lines and curves of legitimate notes. The method can more accurately determine the location and orientation of a pattern and thus provides more reliable currency detection. A detector is trained off-line with example notes resulting in a stored template generated by recording a test pattern similar to a pattern to be tested; anchor lines are identified within said template which are further represented in subsequent test patterns. The template is rotated and shifted before matching it to the test pattern so that anchor lines align with long lines detected within the test pattern. The template and test pattern are then compared to determine whether there is a match.

Abstract: A method carried out in an image processing system in which images of documents are captured by an image capture device, such as a video camera, comprising: (a) displaying successive images captured by the video camera, each image being defined by grayscale image data and containing text matter, (b) receiving a first user input (mouse button click) defining the start of a selection and a first position within the displayed image, (c) in response to the first user input, freezing the displayed image, (d) determining the skew angle of text matter with respect to the field of view of the video camera, (e) receiving at least one further user input (further button click; drag of cursor), including a final user input (mouse button release), defining the end of a selection, and for the or each further user input, (f) determining, using the skew angle determined in step (d), the position, shape and dimensions of a selection element in dependence upon at least the first position, and (g) displaying the selection eleme

Abstract: A character reader for optically reading and entering characters. The character reader including: an input apparatus for photoelectrically reading characters as an image, creating image data formed by black pixels lying on a white surface, and entering the image data; a tangent detector for generating at least two line segments, each line segment connecting two black pixels within a character string of the image data; and a tilt decider for choosing a representative line segment from the at least two line segments which is representative of the tilt of the character string, on the basis that the distance between two black pixels specifying the representative line segment is longer than the distance between two black pixels specifying another line segment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for inputting an original image and forming an image on a recording medium, includes an image direction detection unit for detecting the image direction of an original image, and a control unit for controlling image forming device to perform predetermined image forming processing in accordance with the detection result of the image direction detection unit. The image direction detection unit outputs a degree of determination as the detection result of the image direction, and a level for determining whether or not the predetermined image processing is done is set for the degree of determination.

Abstract: The correct orientation for a document scanned by an OCR system is determined from the confidence factors associated with multiple character images identified in the document. One disclosed orientation determination module (258) for determining the correct page orientation includes a confidence factor values buffer (402), a comparison module (404), a reference value buffer (406), a sort module (408), and a decision module (410). The orientation determination module (258) obtains arrays of confidence factor values that respectively correspond to first and second page orientations. The confidence factor values buffer (402) stores and indexes the confidence factor values, the sort module (408) sorts the values, and the reference value buffer (406) stores comparison information such as threshold levels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image input device for photoelectrically converting a document image which has been optically read and for inputting the converted document image as image data. An area separator separates a plurality of areas included in the input image data from one another and a character recognition is performed from a plurality of directions with respect to character data in the image data input by the image input device with reference to a character recognition dictionary. The apparatus performs a first discriminating function of discriminating, for the plurality of areas separated by the area separator, respective reliabilities in a plurality of directions on the basis of results of the character recognition, and second discrimination function for discriminating a document direction on the basis of average values of the reliabilities discriminated by the first discriminating function.

Abstract: Document image data entered from a scanner are separated into a plurality of areas by an area separation unit. Attributes are assigned to respective ones of the plurality of partial areas obtained in the area separation unit. For instance, a character area in the main body of text and a character area in a table are examples of area attributes. Each of these attributes is assigned a degree of priority in advance. A character recognition/orientation discrimination unit detects character orientation in each of the plurality of partial areas and discriminates document orientation. The orientation of the document image data is determined based upon the document orientation of each partial area discriminated by the character recognition/orientation discrimination unit and the degree of priority of the attribute assigned to each partial area.

Abstract: An arrangement of discrete objects is analyzed. First and second characteristics are extracted from an actual arrangement of discrete objects and an ideal arrangement of points, respectively, and the first and second characteristics are compared. Each characteristic is invariant, to within an angular constant, under an affine transformation of the respective arrangement.

Abstract: Black pixels of image signals are expanded, a plurality of black pixel regions obtained by expanding the black pixels are connected to each other, and the circumscribing rectangles of the connected regions are extracted. In accordance with characteristics of the positions and sizes of the extracted circumscribing rectangles and the direction of characters in the circumscribing rectangles, whether the direction of the image is longitudinal or lateral and whether the image faces upwards or downwards are determined. In accordance with a result of the determination, configuration of the plural original document images on a sheet is decided. The plural original documents are combined into one composite image with the decided configuration. Therefore, a required copy output can be obtained regardless of the direction of the original document employed by a user and the direction of the original document set by the same.

Abstract: A denomination recognition apparatus and method uses a programmed microelectronic CPU (14) to execute program instructions (19) stored in PROM (18) to read in pixel data from an optical imaging section including LEDs (15) and photodiodes (16) for generating signals which can be converted to a first image of a currency note (13) being transported along the path of travel. The CPU (14) receives position and skew data detected by external sensors for sensing the position and skew of the note (13).

Abstract: A document imaging system detects skew and/or size of a document. In one embodiment, a document imaging system generates scanning signals representing the documents, analyxes the scanning signals to detect one more edges of the document before the entire lenght of the document is scanned, establishes a skew angle between the detected edges and a reference orientation, and modifies the scanning signals to compensate for skew while the document is being scanned. In another embodiment, a document imaging system detects one or more edges of a document, defines a polygon having sides substantially congruent with the detected edges, and establishes the size of the document in response to the polygon.

Abstract: A method for rigorously reshaping a pair of overlapping digital images using a Digital Photogrammetric Workstation (DPW) is disclosed. The overlapping images are imported into the DPW as a pair of originally distorted images having an associated sensor model. The original images are triangulated to adjust sensor parameters. Orthophotos are created with a flat digital terrain matrix (DTM) to leave terrain displacements within themselves, and according to a sensor model and formula for exact projective computations. The orthophotos are aligned by rotation, and interior orientation coordinates of the equivalent vertical frame images are determined. The orthophotos are imported as a pair of overlapping equivalent vertical frame images according to the interior orientation coordinates. A digital terrain model is generated in the DPW using the overlapping equivalent vertical frame images. Another orthophoto is produced using the digital terrain model to remove the measured terrain displacements.

Abstract: A method for providing information of the orientation of chest and abdomen images on x-ray films. The method optically reads chest image and determines whether the image is a front or side image and the orientation of this image and the handedness of the image. The method also determines where the heart is in a chest front image and the direction the patient is facing in the case of a chest side image. The method optically reads an image and determines whether the image is an abdominal image or not and, if it is, the method determines the orientation of the patient with respect to the image plane.

Abstract: An invention for determining a rectangular bounding box encompassing a photograph or object(s) represented within a digital image is disclosed. The rectangular bounding box is determined irrespective of the device used to acquire the digital image. First a set of contrast points is derived; these contrast points representing changes in the characteristics of a pixel from that of a traversed neighbor. After ordering the contrast points according to their radial angle around a central reference point, a list of lines is generated by selecting two points separated by q positions in the ordered list of contrast points. If the four lines generated the most often roughly form a rectangle, then they correspond to the sides of the rectangular bounding box. Else, the line with the highest count is used as a base side of the rectangular bounding box.

Abstract: A fingerprint image is divided into blocks of pixels. The blocks are determined to be within the foreground or background of the image. Each of the foreground blocks are assigned a block direction. If an image consists of the complete impression of the fingerprint, there should exist at least one path (ridge), composes of foreground blocks, which lies on both half planes of a coordinate system with an origin at the centroid of the foreground and that comes sufficiently close to the x axis once the path crosses to the second half plane of the coordinate system.

Abstract: In the present invention, an image is registered as a model image by setting a window after calculating a main axis angle of the model image stored in an image memory, the main axis angle being defined on a display screen, and then rotating the model image so that the main axis angle becomes a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A character reader comprises an input unit for reading characters by a scanner-typed photoelectric transfer unit as an image, creating the image data formed by binary pixel of white and black lying on the plain surface and entering the same, a tangent detecting unit for detecting tangent information on tangents contacting with black pixels forming a character string within the image data, a tilt deciding unit for deciding a representative tangent which is representative for the direction of a row of character string, from the above-mentioned tangents, on the basis of the tangent information detected by the tangent detecting unit.

Abstract: A method for scanning and detecting number and skew angle of photographs (12) and removing edge artifacts is disclosed. A plurality of photograph is placed on a scanner (11). A low resolution scan (34) is conducted of the photographs (12) to produce a plurality of low resolution images. A plurality of polygons is constructed, wherein each polygon contains at least one low resolution image. A number of polygons is determined and compared to the number of photographs. If the number of polygons is less than the number of photographs, the photographs are repositioned to separate overlapped photographs and the low resolution is repeated. A skew angle and location is determined for each of the photographs. A first photograph is selected and the first photograph is scanned at a high resolution to produce a high resolution image. The high resolution image is deskewed and cropped to remove the edge artifacts.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to correct a distortion due to inclination of a document and to correct a luminance.First, an edge detection section detects an edge of a document image from a picture obtained by imaging the document. Then, a skew detection section detects a skew of the document from the edge. A rotation correction section causes the picture to rotate on the basis of the skew detected by the skew detection section. Subsequently, the edge detection section again extracts a document image edge from the picture rotated by the rotation correction section. Further, a height calculation section calculates from the edge a height of the document. Simultaneously, a magnification calculation section calculates from the edge a magnification of the picture. Next, a distortion correction section corrects a distortion by magnification/reduction of the picture rotated by the rotation correction section on the basis of the document height and the magnification.

Abstract: The size and orientation of a document are detected by determining the length in the horizontal scanning direction and the length in the vertical scanning direction of the document to be read through a reader. According to the detection result, it is determined whether the image of the document needs to be rotated or not so as to satisfy a condition where a shortest dimension among the transmittable widths in the horizontal scanning direction, at which no part of the image is missing, occurs and the dimension in the vertical scanning direction is minimized. According to the determination result, the document image which has been read through the reader is registered in an image memory and the registered image data is read out to transmit it to a receiver through a telephone line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for reliably detecting the upside and downside vertical direction of an image, such as characters on a document. The method involves judging the upside and downside vertical direction of the characters in each line, and specifying the upside and downside vertical direction of the characters on the entire image on the basis of the vertical directions detected line by line.

Abstract: In order to reduce the size of an apparatus capable of obtaining a result of correlation between images at a high speed, a multiplex selector for shifting addresses of a plurality of memories, a detector for detecting an amount stored in a memory element of one of the plurality of memories and an amount stored in a memory element obtained by shifting an address of the one of the plurality of memories, and a determination unit for obtaining correlation between outputs of the detector for each amount of shift.