Abstract: Detecting skew and determining skew angle using the front of a document by determining background-to-document transitions. Incoming scanlines are interval sampled in the fast scan direction every nth pixel. The samples are collected and organized into a two dimension array comprised of scanline based rows and interval based columns. The collected and organized samples are analyzed by intervals to determine a scanline (row) where a specified sampling condition exceeds predetermined threshold. The corresponding row-interval point forms a background-to-medium transition point of the edge of a document. When two or more background-to-medium transition points are found from different intervals the skew angle can be determined using linear regression.

Abstract: A printer in which difference in color tone or contrast between a picture displayed on a display and a picture printed by the printer device is suppressed to a minimum. The display is preferably integrated with the printer. The printer includes an image data inputting unit for receiving input image information, e.g., by reading image data from a digital storage medium or from film, and providing digital image data based thereupon. Display outputting circuitry outputs an image signal corresponding to the digital image data to the display. A picture printing unit prints an image corresponding to the digital image data on a recording medium. A characteristics correction unit corrects a display setting prescribing display image properties of the display and a printing characteristics setting prescribing printing picture properties of the printing unit, so that color tone and/or contrast of the displayed and printed pictures are equalized.

Abstract: A method of estimating shift of white balance point. According to characteristics of a photograph sensing apparatus, a white-point plane of a YIQ color coordinate is determined. The white-point plane has a normal direction pointing one of the axis of the YIQ color coordinate. The white-point plane is thus perpendicular to such axis with a one-dimensional one-spot value. Consequently, a YIQ image data described by the YIQ color coordinate is obtained. The same rotation operation is performed to rotate the YIQ image data to obtain a one-dimensional image value. The one-dimensional image value is compared to the one-dimensional white-point value to obtain a differential value, so as to estimate the white-point shift. In the above method, the axis of the YIQ color coordinate includes the Y-axis after rotation.

Abstract: A process for formatting printable information orders selected data objects, document pages or images, to create a new document, where pages may be of uniform dimension and page orientation or varying in one or both of dimension and page orientation. Groups of pages are imposed on sheets so that the sequence of the printed pages matches the page sequence of the created document after post-printing processing. A method of imposing the differently shaped and sized printable pages on sheets divides an image of a sheet into separate slots and places a page into each slot by placing an image of the page in each slot. Alignment, offset and scaling settings are applied to individual slots, rows, columns or all slots. A variety of other layout and job options are set before printing. In a distributed system, the software, accessible from any workstation, is housed on a server.

Abstract: An object detection and extraction system and method for processing digital image data. The system and method segregates objects contained within a single image and allows those objects to be considered as an individual object. In general, the object detection and extraction method takes an image containing one or more objects of know shape (such as rectangular objects) and finds the number of objects along with their size, orientation and position. In particular, the object detection and extraction method includes classifying each pixel in an image containing one or more objects to obtain pixel classification data, defining an image function to process the pixel classification data, and dividing the image into sub-images based on disparities or gaps in the image function. Each of the sub-images is processed to determine a size and an orientation for the each of the objects. The object detection and extraction system uses the above method.

Abstract: A method for the rectification of an X-ray picture (2a, 2b) of an item of luggage (2) during luggage screening with the following steps: recording the X-ray picture (2a, 2b) of the item of luggage (2) by means of a X-ray radioscopy device (11, 11a); geometric rescaling (7) of the X-ray picture (2a, 2b) whilst taking into consideration only the geometric data of the mapping geometry of the X-ray radioscopy device (11, 11a) and also the image data of the recording of the X-ray picture (2a, 2b) of the item of luggage (2), the beam path (10) being tracked for each detector element onto a respective preset plane; transmission of the rescaled, de-skewed X-ray picture (8a, 8b) to a display or image-processing apparatus (9).

Abstract: A pattern signal is steganographically encoded in a content object to aid in identifying distortion (e.g., image rotation) to which the object may be subjected. The signal may include a feature that can be used to unambiguously identify correct orientation.

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 system and method are provided for aligning a scanned document in a digital scanner. The method comprises: scanning a document to create a matrix of pixel information; averaging pixel intensity information into a first plurality of row-mean buffer elements, where each row strip includes information from a second plurality of column elements; and, averaging pixel information into a third plurality of column-mean buffer elements, where each column strip includes information from a fourth plurality of row elements; comparing adjacent elements of matrix row information to generate a first set of edge positions; comparing adjacent elements of matrix column information to generate a second set of edge positions; generating a rotation angle in response to analyzing the first and second edge positions; and, rotating the scanned document by the rotation angle.

Abstract: A parallel, non-iterative, memory efficient method of determining image skew. A document skew angle is determined from a fast scan second order moment data set and a slow scan second order moment data set. A slow scan second order moment data set can be generated by receiving a current scanline of image data, updating columns sums for a set of rotation angles using scanlines within a buffer comprising a band having a predetermined number B of scanlines, and updating the buffer with the current scanline.

Abstract: A method to be used within a document image capture device, such as a document scanner (10) of detecting and measuring the document skew (25) while the document is still entering the imaging area and then effecting a rotation of the camera to accommodate the document skew so that the resulting image taken is not skewed. This can be accomplished by one of several methods, such as rotating the entire camera, rotating only the sensor element, or rotating another element in the optical path such as a prism. Use of the methods incorporated in this invention does not require the document motion to be stopped to measure and accommodate skew or to take the image.

Abstract: In a machine-fed scanner, orientation angles of edges of an image bearing substrate are obtained and used to calculate image shear and/or skew. A running weighted average of the image skew may be kept in a memory. When a skew value is obtained for a given image, it may be determined whether the skew value is within a predetermined range. If the skew value is within the predetermined range, the skew value is used to determine an image revision to compensate for the skew, and the skew value is incorporated into the running weighted average skew. If the skew value is not within the predetermined range, it is discarded and the running weighted average skew is used to determine an appropriate image skew revision. The running weighted average of the shear may also be kept in a memory. A shear value is obtained for each image, and incorporated into the running weighted average shear. Shear revision is performed based on the running weighted average shear.

Abstract: A computer controlled system, method, and corresponding computer data product, for utilizing a normalized gray scale pattern find within a machine vision system.

Abstract: A method for determining component misalignment in a multi-modality imaging system including a first modality unit, a second modality unit, and a table, includes imaging an object with the first modality unit to generate a first image, imaging the object with the second modality unit to generate a second image, and determining a table alignment status using the first and second images.

Abstract: A system, method, and corresponding computer data product, generates a high resolution reference image, generates a set of rotated reference images from the high resolution reference image, cross-correlates the set of rotated reference images with the high resolution reference image to generate a set of cross-correlation values, and determines that the high resolution reference image is suitable for use in a normalized gray scale pattern find process when the difference between any two correlation values generated by the image cross correlation module is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a backing and is arranged for a media to be positioned against the backing. The backing includes an embedded backing pattern. The media is skewed with respect to the scanning, thus defining a media skew. The media and the backing are scanned to form a pixel pattern. For each pixel, an included pattern recognition algorithm determines when the pixel represents the backing. When the pixel represents the backing, it is replaced with a replacement backing symbol, otherwise it is replaced with a replacement media symbol. The pixel determining and symbol replacing process is continued for remaining pattern pixels to form a replacement symbol pattern comprised of the replacement backing symbols and the replacement media symbols. The media is then processed based on the replacement symbol pattern, the processing including detecting the media skew, registering the media, or both.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for the correction of user induced inadvertent orientation errors in captured digital images before the digital image is saved to a storage media or memory. A system of the present invention checks a user-selectable input to determine if the orientation correction has been enabled, enables a tilt determining mechanism which senses orientation errors when the feature is enabled, corrects the orientation errors in the viewed image, displays a corrected digital image to the user and allows the user to store a digital representation of the corrected image into a memory. The method of the present invention includes receiving a digital representation of an image, identifying vertical or horizontal lines contained within the image, determining an orientation error, rotating the digital representation of the image to reduce the orientation error and displaying a corrected digital image.

Abstract: A simple and robust method for determining the orientation angle of a scanned image or the angular orientation of an object in an electronic image based on using descriptors of the image and systems that implement the method are disclosed. A system including means for acquiring the electronic image, means for determining image centroid coordinates, means for obtaining second order moments corresponding to the image, and, means for determining an orientation angle of a principal axis of the image implements the method.

Abstract: An image-processing system comprising an image-acquisition device configured to generate a representation of a source object, the representation comprising a plurality of pixels, a processor communicatively coupled to the image-acquisition device, and a memory element communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory element comprising logic configured to determine when the source object is skewed in the representation, and logic configured to identify the borders of an orthogonal portion of the representation responsive to the logic configured to determine, wherein the orthogonal portion comprises unaltered pixels that contain information corresponding to the source object.

Abstract: For finding an inclination of an image rapidly and correctly, an image processing device includes a CCD picking up an image, an edge detection unit detecting an edge of an image relating to the picked-up image, a rotation unit rotating the detected edge in an image plane, an operation unit deriving a characteristic amount of rotated edge and an inclination detection unit detecting an inclination of the picked-up image based on the derived characteristic amount.

Abstract: A process for watermarking images that includes embedding into the images before their transmission a message by modifying the data characteristic of the images. Further, a co-watermarking is performed by periodic embedding of a binary matrix into the image to determine on reception the co-ordinates of the origin of the initial image and allow the registration of the images received relative to this origin so as to make it possible to read the embedded message. Such a process may find particular application to the transmission of stationary or video images.

Abstract: Paper is textured with a pattern that yields a known signature signal when transformed to the frequency domain. This signature can be used for various purposes, including determining the angular orientation of the paper when scanned, conveying a plural-bit digital watermark, and for simple document recognition purposes (e.g., photocopiers that refuse to reproduce banknotes). The texturing can be effected during the paper-making process, e.g., by shaping the surface of a de-watering element accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus and a concomitant method for detecting and recognizing text information in a captured imagery. The present method transforms the image of the text to a normalized coordinate system before performing OCR, thereby yielding more robust recognition performance. The present invention also combines OCR results from multiple frames, in a manner that takes the best recognition results from each frame and forms a single result that can be more accurate than the results from any of the individual frames.

Abstract: A method for determining skew angle (5) and location of a document in an over-scanned digital image is disclosed. A document is scanned to capture a gray scale image. The outline pixel (1) of a document from the captured gray scale image are connected (2). An initial angle is set at zero and a x-minimum, y-minimum, x-maximum, and y-maximum of the polygon are determined (3). A rectangular boundary (4) area based on the x-minimum, y-minimum, x-maximum, and y-maximum is calculated and recorded. The angle is recorded and the polygon is rotated z-degree. The process is repeated and a minimum boundary area is selected. An angle corresponding to the minimum boundary is the skew angle of the document.

Abstract: A device for exposure of a strip-shaped workpiece with a meander correction device which is capable of carrying out meander correction with high precision even in the case of a thin workpiece or the formation of static electricity. The device includes two means for edge determination which are located at two locations in the transport direction of the strip-shaped workpiece and which photographs the edge of the strip-shaped workpiece, a pattern formed by the intersection of a linear part of a mask and the workpiece edge, a CCD camera for capturing the pattern formed, an image processing part for recording the pattern and searching for matching preset patterns, and a controller for computing the amount of meander of the strip-shaped workpiece, outputting a control signal if the amount of meander is outside of a preset range, and correcting the meander by rotating the workpiece and/or moving the workpiece in the transverse direction.

Abstract: Digital watermark embedding is incorporated into processes for generating halftone images. In a halftone process using a halftone screen, the halftone screen is used to determine the geometric distortion of an image. After determining the geometric distortion, a watermark decoder compensates for this distortion and retrieves an embedded digital watermark.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing noise from a first digital representation of data images and noise images of a document, including digitally scanning the document so as to produce the first digital representation of all the images of the document, including the data images and the noise images. After de-skewing the image representation, objects are built from a reduced-resolution representation of the scanned representation. Objects identified as picture objects are included in a mask which is logically ANDed with the de-skewed representation of the scanned document. All objects are added to an object list and initially marked as noise. Objects identified as text objects or geometric objects are marked as data objects. Objects identified as picture objects are included in a mask which is logically ANDed with the de-skewed representation to eliminate all other objects.

Abstract: A Hough transform unit executes Hough transform to HIGH pixels of outline binary image data inputted thereto, and stores the calculation result in a Hough space data storage. A Hough space data calculating/projecting unit sequentially reads out data stored in the Hough space data storage, executes a specific calculation, and thereafter stores the calculation result sequentially in a calculated projection data storage. An angle detector sequentially reads out calculated frequency data stored in the calculated projection data storage, calculates the maximal value of the data read out, and detects an angle that gives the maximal value as the skew angle. The image processing device, being thus configured, allows detecting and correcting the skew angle with high accuracy, even when the input image contains image elements such as photograph images and dot images.

Abstract: The instant invention is a system and method for converting improvement images to geographically referenced chart symbols and for combining improvement images with other geographically referenced information to create composite images. The instant invention provides for marking specific reference points on the improvement image with textual strings and using a system configured to recognize textual strings, to understand the information, and to determine the appropriate translation, rotation angle, and scale factor of the improvement image to render a geographically referenced image.

Abstract: A method of reducing background noise during optical character recognition includes conducting a first recognition pass over image data at a sequence of character positions to frame and recognize a first set of characters while a second set of characters remains unrecognized. Character skew is tracked based on the first recognition pass. The image data is modified to remove background noise based on the tracked character skew. A second recognition pass is conducted over the modified image data at the sequence of character positions to frame and recognize the second set of characters.

Abstract: A method of determining image skew in a scanned document includes scanning the image and determining on a pixel-by-pixel basis whether or not pixels are ON or OFF on scan lines and columns along both the fast and slow scan directions for a particular document rotation angle. Through one read of the image, image data is sampled simultaneously at a plurality of predetermined document rotation angles From the sampled data, the second order moment of the number of ON pixels is calculated as a function of document rotation angle for scan lines along both the fast and slow scan directions, yielding two independent skew angle estimates Skew angle estimates corresponding to valid second order moment data sets are compared and combined to provide a resultant skew angle estimate for the document.

Abstract: Methods are provided for use with a computing device and an image scanning device. One method includes performing a scan to produce a preview scanned image, selecting a portion of the preview scanned image for final scanning, and scanning the selected portion of the preview scanned image to produce a final scanned image. Performing the scan to produce the preview scanned image may include performing an autocrop process and a deskew process before displaying the preview scanned image to the user. Once the preview scanned image is displayed, then the user may decide to selectively rotate the preview scanned image, for example, about an anchor point that was used in the deskew process. The user may also select a portion of interest within the image. Once the user is satisfied with the user selected rotation, if any, and the user selected portion of interest, then a final scan will be performed. As part of the final scan process, the method includes calculating an effective portion of the preview scanned image.

Abstract: The electrical scan which applies data for one of the red, green and blue colors of a liquid crystal display (LCD) to the pixels of each row of the display and the optical scan of the panel with the color stripe of that color are synchronized to ensure sufficient time for the switching of the pixel from one color value to another. Synchronizing the electrical and optical scans creates a better color rendition of the displayed image without any inter-color mixing artifacts. Arrays or groups of photosensors are positioned laterally adjacent the active portion of the panel and each array is covered by a filter which passes light of only one of the three colors (red, green and blue) used in the display.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of a face from image data includes a face detection algorithm having two separate algorithmic steps: a first step of prescreening image data with a first component of the algorithm to find one or more face candidate regions of the image based on a comparison between facial shape models and facial probabilities assigned to image pixels within the region; and a second step of operating on the face candidate regions with a second component of the algorithm using a pattern matching technique to examine each face candidate region of the image and thereby confirm a facial presence in the region, whereby the combination of these components provides higher performance in terms of detection levels than either component individually.

Abstract: The described arrangements and procedures identify an image's orientation by extracting features from peripheral portions of the image. The procedure evaluates the extracted features based on training image feature orientation classification models to identify the image's orientation.

Abstract: The registration and skew information of a document about to be scanned are detected prior to capturing the entire image of the document. Two sensors, a fixed distance apart, are used to detect the document skew. A third sensor is used to detect the edge position of the document. Paper sensors in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) are used to determine the document size. The data from the skew sensors are used to calculate the required skew correction angle and direction by which to rotate the image. The document edge position information together with skew information is used to determine the exact location of a corner of the document. This information is used to correct skewed image in real-time, during scanning the document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has functions of tilt adjustments to a mirror for reflecting a laser beam and outputting an image after registration of a plurality of images.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for finding an orientation of an object from the image of the object through the generation of, and subsequent evaluation of, at least a portion of a frequency response of the image. The orientation of the object can be used in subsequent image processing.

Abstract: A document reading apparatus and method are provided for outputting an image faithful to a document as possible even if the document is accidentally fed in an oblique fashion on the way of a sheet feeding path. For this purpose, a plurality of document end detecting sensors S1 to S3 are disposed on the way of the sheet feeding path 5, and further, a reading controller 20 calculates a skew quantity ? of the document with respect to the sheet feeding path 5 based on a signal output from the document end detecting sensor, thereby adjusting a document reading timing in accordance with the skew quantity.

Abstract: The present invention displays text within a region by identifying text boxes within the region. To identify the text boxes, the invention uses scan lines that are spaced at intervals that are smaller than the text height of the text to be placed in the boxes. These scan lines are combined to identify the full text boxes. Additionally, under the invention, a region is transformed before text boxes are generated for the region. The transform is an inverse of a text transform that is applied to the text placed in the region. This allows rotated and skewed text to be placed in the region. The invention also facilitates displaying a single text string across several disjointed regions.

Abstract: A multifunction image-transfer system with printing, scanning, digital copying, and facsimile capabilities detects skew as sheet media is fed. A skew processor digitally skews image data as a function of sheet-feed skew detected by skew detectors. In the context of a scanning operation, an image-bearing document is fed to a scanner device, which generates a digital raster image. A buffer stores portions of the digital image as it is transferred. The image data in the buffer is digital skew-compensated before it is transferred to a host computer. In the context of a printing operation, raster print data is stored in the memory buffer and then skew compensated before the image is printed to the print media. The digital skew compensation allows mechanical tolerances in such systems to be relaxed and system lifetimes to be lengthened since “true” images can result despite moderate media skew.

Abstract: The position of sheets in a printing press is measured. A problem in transporting sheets through the printing press is how to guarantee the correct orientation and lay of the sheets, which must be guaranteed particularly in the printing operation. There is provided a device for precisely determining and correcting the positions of sheets in printing presses. Margin regions of a sheet are respectively imaged, projection data are transmitted to a computing unit, and the position of the sheet is calculated with the aid of the projection data by way of an image recognition algorithm. Furthermore, the computed positions of the sheet are compared to positions which are stored in the computing unit, and from the comparison, position deviations are computed, which are transmitted to the printing press and corrected by way of a sheet registration device.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an orientation of a molecular array having features arranged in a pattern. An image of the molecular array is obtained by scanning the molecular array to determine data signals emanating from discrete positions on a surface of the molecular array. An actual result of a function on pixels of the image which pixels lie in a second pattern, is calculated. This actual result is compared with an expected result which would be obtained if the second pattern had a predetermined orientation on the array. Array orientation can then be evaluated based on the result.

Abstract: An image read controller for extracting an original portion from an image read by an image reader. The image read controller includes means for extracting a rectangular area containing the area in which the original exists from the read image, inclination detection means for detecting the inclination of the rectangular area, inclination correction means for correcting the inclination of the rectangle in response to the detected inclination, cut width setting means for setting the cut width of each side of the rectangle in response to the detected inclination, and cutting means for cutting the margins of the rectangular area based on the setup cut width of each side to extract the original image.

Abstract: Digital watermark embedding is incorporated into processes for generating halftone images. In a halftone process using a halftone screen, the halftone screen is used to determine the geometric distortion of an image. After determining the geometric distortion, a watermark decoder compensates for this distortion and retrieves an embedded digital watermark.

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 having a directivity and a rotating angle calculating mark provided to surround the central mark. The central mark includes a rectangle and a circle provided apart from the rectangle adjacent to one of short sides of the rectangle. Three or more rotating angle calculating marks are provided. Respective center positions of the rotating angle calculating marks are present in a region provided apart from a center position of the central mark by 13 mm to 17 mm.

Abstract: A method for correcting skew images is provided. The method first groups a scanned image into blocks with N*N pixels, and detects all the blocks to find out the edge areas with the larger luminance or chrominance difference afterward. Next, gradient angles of the edge areas are calculated to sum up their weightings. The gradient angle with the highest weighting is taken as the skew angle for the image to be rotated. In consequence, the method achieves a higher accuracy of image correction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-performance camera calibration apparatus and method capable of accomplishing stable high-accuracy parameter estimation. A pattern whose geometrical configuration is known in advance is photographed by a camera to generate a picked-up image, with the generated picked-up image being temporarily stored as an image input in a frame buffer. In addition, a base image having a pattern univocally corresponding in geometrical configuration definition to the picked-up image is generated according to the CG technology or the like, and is stored in another frame buffer. An image registration is made between the base image and the picked-up image to minimize the luminance error, which enables the parameter estimation.

Abstract: An image input apparatus receives image data from a scanner having a reading surface on which an original image is placed, the image data being generated through reading the reading surface. An image outline determination apparatus determines an outline of an original image placed on the reading surface of the scanner in accordance with the image data obtained by the scanner. An area designation section designates a rectangular proposed area of which at least portion enters into an area of the original image placed on the reading surface.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of performing accurate document reading, and a document processing system utilizing the digital camera. In the document processing system, a document is divided into blocks and each block is sensed by a CCD 103; perspective correction is performed on the image data of each of the plurality of images obtained by divisionally sensing the document; and 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 outputted for printing.