Active perception (active vision specifically) is defined as a study of modeling and control strategies for perception. Local methods are distinguished from global models by their extent of application in space and time. The local models represent procedures and parameters such as optical distortions of the lens, focal lens, spatial resolution, bandpass filter, etc, The global models, on the other hand, characterize the overall performance and make predictions on how the individual modules interact. The control strategies are formulated as a search of such sequences of steps that would minimize a loss function while still seeking the most information. Examples are shown as the existence proof of the proposed theory on obtaining range from focus and stereo/vergence on 2-D segmentation of an image and 3-D shape parameterization. >

Active perception

A lithographic apparatus configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first radiation dose detector and a second radiation dose detector, each detector comprising a secondary electron emission surface configured to receive a radiation flux and to emit secondary electrons due to the receipt of the radiation flux, the first radiation dose detector located upstream with respect to the second radiation dose detector viewed with respect to a direction of radiation transmission, and a meter, connected to each detector, to detect a current or voltage resulting from the secondary electron emission from the respective electron emission surface.

Lithographic apparatus, and device manufacturing method

This book addresses an area of perception engineering which deals with constructive processes A model of the environment is analyzed using the information acquired from mUltiple viewpoints of multiple disparate sensors at multiple time instants Although the role of successive model building and active exploration of the environment, as is discussed in this book, is of great importance, only a few researchers of machine perception have thus far addressed the problem in these directions Krotkov's book, which is a modification and continuation of his highly successful dissertation, focuses on active exploratory sensing in the context of spatial layout perception He uses stereo and focus to obtain distance By information, and to eventually develop cooperative combining techniques means of a stereo system with verging cameras, it is demonstrated that the distance measurements can be significantly improved by combining two sources In addition, the problem of merging information from the multiple views is discussed in detail As the field of perception engineering seems to be of growing scientific and applied importance, both practitioners and researchers in machine perception will find this book a valuable addition to their libraries RameshJain Series Editor Acknowledgements I would like to thank Professor Ruzena Bajcsy for her constant encouragement and guidance during the five years of research leading to the dissertation upon which this book is based Without her help in all matters, this work would never have been possible

Active Computer Vision by Cooperative Focus and Stereo

A device and method rapidly quantifying the relative distention of the bladder of a human subject are disclosed. Ultrasonic transducer 1, which is positioned on subject 2 in proximity to bladder 16, is excited by pulser 3A under command of microprocessor 4 to launch an acoustic wave into patient 2. This wave interacts with bladder walls 12,13 and is reflected back to ultrasonic transducer 1, whence it is received, amplified, and processed by receiver 3B. The resulting signal is digitized by analog-to-digital converter 5 under command of microprocessor 4, and is stored in data memory 6B. The software in microprocessor 4 determines the relative distention of bladder 16 as a function of the propagated ultrasonic energy; and based on programmed scientific measurements and past history with the specific subject as contained in program memory 6A, sends out a signal to turn on any or all of the audible alarm 7, the visible alarm 8, the tactile alarm 9, and the remote wireless alarm 10.

Rapidly quantifying the relative distention of a human bladder

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an object (20) being scanned ultrasonically comprises a source arrangement for sequentially transmitting ultrasonic energy toward the object in successive directions in a first scanning plane, followed by sequential transmission of ultrasonic energy toward the object in successive directions in successive scanning planes parallel to the first scanning plane, a detector arrangement for receiving reflected energy and converting the reflected energy to electrical signals, and a processor (72) for processing the electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data comprising forward projections of the object into a left image plane and a right image plane to form left and right images, respectively, the left and right images forming a stereo pair for composite display by a display unit (74). In a further embodiment of the invention, the source arrangement sequentially transmits ultrasonic energy toward the object (20) in successive directions in a first scanning plane, and repeats the sequential transmission of ultrasonic energy in successive scanning planes, the successive planes having increasing angular orientations with respect to the first scanning plane. Further features of the invention include the provision of various source-detector combinations and arrangements, as well as the simultaneous generation of ultrasonic beams having different frequencies in different respective directions during each given scanning cycle.

Three-dimensional imaging system.

Toshiba and Toshiba Machine have developed an advanced electron beam writing system EX-11 for next-generation mask fabrication. EX-11 is a 50 kV variable-shaped beam lithography system for manufacturing 4x masks for 0.15 - 0.18 micrometer technology generation. Many breakthroughs were studied and applied to EX-11 to meet future mask-fabrication requirements, such as critical dimension and positioning accuracy. We have verified the accuracy required for 0.15 - 0.18 micrometer generation.

Advanced electron-beam writing system EX-11 for next-generation mask fabrication

A microprogrammable ultrasonic image processor and its applications to image enhancement are presented. An image processor has been implemented to input, manipulate and display the ultrasonic image data with a high image quality and also to facilitate the human operation. Although this processor has specially designed circuits for ultrasonic image processing, a microprocessor and its associated arithmetic circuits can be utilized for programmed image manipulations; for example, smoothing, enhancement, contrast stretching, area/arc-length measurement and so on.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Microprogrammable Ultrasonic Image Processor And Its Applications To Image Manipulation

This paper describes 3D vision techniques for an advanced robot system in terms of efficient hardware and practical software. Arm-controlled stereo cameras have been developed for efficient 3D sensing, whose interocular distance, yaw and tilt are under program control. Stereo vision programs are implemented with the aid of the stereo cameras and a high-speed vision processor. Knowledge-guided vision algorithms are realized in a high-level processor, where a priori knowledge regarding the environments, objects and procedure controls are utilized.

Three-dimensional vision techniques for an advanced robot system

This paper presents an intelligent robot vision system using TOSPIX which has been newly developed to realize frequently-used and time-consuming image processing functions at low-cost and high-speed. The vision system has been studied for use in observing surface information about electric parts (dry batteries), inspecting them and then placing good ones into a given box. Three major robot vision functions are implemented here: object recognition, inspection and position determination by binary and gray-scale image processing techniques. While binary image techniques are used in battery terminal inspection and box position determination gray-scale image processing functions are performed in a label pattern check on a battery surface, front or rear surface determination, and surface defect inspection.

Robot vision implementation by high-speed image processor TOSPIX: Battery inspection

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/8151/23642/01087325.pdf

Hiroshi Hoshino

Papers

Advanced electron-beam writing system EX-11 for next-generation mask fabrication

Microprogrammable Ultrasonic Image Processor And Its Applications To Image Manipulation

Three-dimensional vision techniques for an advanced robot system

Robot vision implementation by high-speed image processor TOSPIX: Battery inspection

TBREE-DIHENSIONAL VISION TRCEMIQUES FOR AN ADVANCED ROBOT SYSTEn