Showing papers on "Image conversion published in 1998"

Method and apparatus for monoscopic to stereoscopic image conversion

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a monoscopic image with one perspective to a stereoscopic image with two perspectives is provided. A foreground object is identified and outlined. The depth of the object is endowed with depth information. The second perspective is generated by image warping. Alternate embodiments comprising additional features, such as removing redundant frames, which reduce the necessary computation are also provided.

A comparison of motion-compensated interlace-to-progressive conversion methods

Abstract: The conversion of interlaced video to progressive format may be carried out in a number of ways, including vertical interpolation, fixed or motion-compensated vertical-temporal interpolation, and approaches based on motion compensation using non-uniform sampling theory. Motion-compensated methods potentially offer the best performance, although the accuracy and reliability of the vectors has a significant impact on their performance. For applications such as display conversion using vectors recovered from an MPEG-2 bitstream, the vectors available may not be of the highest quality. This paper considers several motion-compensated interlace-to-progressive conversion methods, and assesses their performance with both accurate and inaccurate vectors using objective and subjective techniques. The method found to work best uses a motion-compensated three-field vertical-temporal filter, in which the vertical component of the vector is rounded to the nearest even number of picture lines per field period. This method reduced the RMS error of converted picture sequences by almost 20% compared to simple vertical filtering when using vectors from an MPEG-2 bitstream. Conversely, some other motion-compensated methods were found to increase the error by a similar amount.

Improved image conversion and encoding techniques

Abstract: A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating the or each object with an identifying tag; allocating the or each object with a depth tag; and determining and defining an outline of each or the object.

32.2: A Real-Time 2-D to 3-D Image Conversion Technique Using Computed Image Depth

Abstract: The “Computed Image Depth method” (CID) is proposed for converting from all kinds of twodimensional (2D) images into three dimensional (3D) images. The 3D images are generated by computing the depth of each separated area of the 2D images with their contrast, sharpness and chrominance. The CID is implemented into a single-chip LSI with the “Modified Time Difference method” ‘*l. In this implementation, both methods are used adaptively according to the object’s motions in the images. The 2D-to-3D image conversion system with this newly developed LSI realizes to generate 3D images automatically in real-time.

Systems and methods for designing image processing filters using templates

Abstract: Image conversion systems and methods optimally perform filter design. The filter design allows for template-based image processing filters to be optimized to criteria based on visual perception. Different weights may be assigned based on different pixel errors. Possible weighting schemes in accordance with the systems and methods of the invention include a function of the distance to ideal pixels and a function of the value of neighboring pixels. The method provides better image quality. The method is useful for resolution enhancement and image restoration in particular.

Image synthesizing device and image conversion device for synthesizing and displaying an NTSC or other interlaced image in any region of a VCA or other non-interlaced image

Abstract: Provided is an image synthesizing device with which a specific display region P of a sub-image is synthesized and displayed within a specific display region Q of a main image displayed on a display 9 , wherein this image synthesizing device comprises a frame memory with which the data in the synthesis and display region P out of the sub-image data is continuously stored in the order of input, after which the stored sub-image data is read out when the scanning address of the main image data is an address corresponding to the display region Q, and a selector 4 with which the main image data displayed on the display 9 and the sub-image data continuously and sequentially read out from the frame memory are inputted, and when the scanning address of the main image data is an address corresponding to the display region Q, the selected channel is switched from main image data to the sub-image data and outputted to the display 9 where this sub-image data is displayed, which allows the capacity of the frame memory used for image synthesis to be smaller, and allows the sub-image to be reduced or magnified at the desired scale factor.

Image format conversion with transparency color adjustment

Abstract: Improved image format conversion techniques that provide improved conversion from an image format supporting transparency to an image format not supporting transparency. The techniques replace a transparency color in an original image format prior to format conversion. Consequently, the format conversion uses the replacement transparency color instead of the original transparency color, and thus is able to provide improved image conversion when converting from an image format supporting transparency to an image format not supporting transparency.

Systems and methods for template matching of multicolored images

Abstract: Systems and methods for template matching of multicolored images provide an image conversion process that respectively views two, three or four input color planes through an input observation window. Single plane vectors are obtained that represent the color planes. The obtained single plane vectors are combined into a multi-plane vector that may be used in a look-up table for descreening or resolution enhancement, for example. Various interactions between color planes may be taken into account to provide optimum color space conversion. Additional information obtained by using the multi-plane vector allow performance of image processes with optimized accurate color values.

Error-distributing image conversion method

Abstract: Minimum density pixels are always turned OFF. Maximum density pixels are always turned ON. The binary conversion errors obtained along the main scanning direction based on the maximum and minimum density pixels are subjected to modification processes with using the correction value “a”. Thus, binary conversion errors are gradually converted into the non-uniform value pattern IE[pos]. Accordingly, uniform conversion errors will not be distributed to pixels along each main scanning line. The leading edge S of the middle density region will not receive uniform conversion errors. Turned-On pixels will be generated properly non-uniformly, thereby preventing occurrence of any undesirable textures.

Monitor device for vehicle

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the rear side image of a sufficient visual field range having little distortion. SOLUTION: An omnibearing visual sensor 1 for picking up an image around a vehicle is loaded on the vehicle, by an image input part 2, an omnibearing image is formed from an image signal from the omnibearing visual sensor 1, this omnibearing image is converted into a cylindrical projected image by an image conversion section 3, the rear image of the range of almost 180 deg. on the rear side of the vehicle is selected from the obtained cylindrical projected image, and the rear image is displayed by a display section 4 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like.

Passenger monitoring device for man-conveyer

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize operation of a man-conveyer without passenger residence by setting a residence detecting region for detecting passenger residence for an image inputted by an image input means, and by calling attention with a guide means when an object exists in the residence detecting region more than a designated time. SOLUTION: During operation of a man-conveyer, an image processing device 3a is started, takes in an image at a doorway with a camera 1a, sets a residence detecting region based on this image, and records the information. It photographs a background image to record it, and performs differential process between the present image and the recorded background image, and converts the differential process result to a binary image with an image conversion circuit 104. Using the binary image after noise removal, a histogram process circuit 105 creates x-axis and y-axis projection distributions. Then, it judges extent of traffic on the man-conveyer from area of a step region, calculates the in-region residence time, and when residence's occurrence is judged, performs attention guidance with a guiding device 22a.

Image conversion method and record medium

Abstract: A positive image which resembles an object is obtained from a negative image which has various color distributions. An image analysis part judges how far image data of a negative image are from a gray line, and finds an intensity value of one optional color which provides a point on the gray line when combined with each of other colors, to thereby identify an HP (highlight point) and an SP (shadow point) on the negative image. At this stage, a pixel at which the sum of RGB-values on the negative image is approximately the largest is defined as a first HP candidate. Maximum values in the negative image are calculated for planes of the respective colors, and one set of the RGB-values is defined as a second HP candidate. Whether the first HP candidate is close to the gray line is judged. If the first HP candidate is close to the gray line, the first HP candidate is directly used as an HP. If the first HP candidate is far from the gray line, whether the second HP candidate is close to the gray line is judged. If the second HP candidate is close to the gray line, the second HP candidate is directly used as an HP. If the second HP candidate is far from the gray line, RGB-values in a white and a black regions in a gray scale are used as an HP and an SP. An image conversion part converts the negative image which is read from an image holding part into image data of a positive image which has a proper contrast, based on information regarding the HP and the SP on the negative image supplied from the image analysis part.

Image converter and image conversion method

Abstract: An image converter and a method for converting a first image signal including a plurality of pixel data to a second image signal including a plurality of pixel data. Particularly, an image converter and an image conversion method, since a class top or a prediction tap from image slicing is controlled in accordance with a feature quantity indicating the quantity of blur of imputted image data, optimum pixel data can be extracted as a class tap or a prediction tap and appropriate predictive processing can be carried out even when the inputted image data have a poor image quality.

Image processor and image processing method

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a conversion method of an input image from causing inability of analysis for add-on additional information by selecting an addition method which is proper to a selected image conversion method and adding a prescribed additional information to the image signal. SOLUTION: A received image signal 901 for each color is given to an image- processing section 902, in which 1st or 2nd dither processing is selectively conducted based on a dither processing designation signal 905. After the dither processing, the processed image signal is given to a dot pattern addition section 903. A ROM 906 stores three dot sets, and the adder section 903 adds a dot pattern to the input image signal, only if a color designation signal designates a luminance signal Y and does not add any dot pattern to M, C, Bk signals. Thus, additional information applies add-on to only part of colors that are hardly perceived by human eyes. Then the image signal to which the dot pattern is subjected to add-on is given to a laser drive section, by which printing is conducted.

Mutual conversion between 3D images and light rays

Abstract: In the field of 3-D image, several kinds of input/output methods are developed and still making rapid progress. Considering such situation, it is desirable that the format of 3-D data is independent on input/output methods. For this purpose, ray-based representation has been proposed. In this method, 3-D physical space is represented by rays which propagate in the space. If whole light rays are completely described, 3-D space can be reproduced correctly from light ray data. However, we can only obtain sample data of light rays, e.g. multiview images. Moreover, the parameters which represent the position and direction of light rays are also sampled. If the sampling of ray parameters is not proper, it is probable that original image are not reproduced correctly from the light rays. In this paper, we discuss the effects of the sampling in mutual conversion between multiview images and light rays. Furthermore, we present sampling methods to reproduce original images correctly for several camera arrangements.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Systems and methods for image conversion useful in the transformation of photographic pictures into templates for painting

Abstract: Methods and computer executable instructions are provided for converting original images such as photographic pictures into various other formats such as drawings by reducing the amount of data contained in the original images. It is a feature of this invention that a photographic picture can be converted into a drawing useful as a template to enable a person to paint the template into a likeness of the photographic picture. In a preferred embodiment, an original image is supplied to a computing environment where it is quantized into pixels of information. Each scalar value of each pixel is evaluated and aberrant pixels are absorbed into adjacent pixels by converting various scalar values. Thereafter, pixels having similar scalar values are grouped into regions. The boundaries between the regions are absorbed into each of the surrounding regions to provide a smoothed boundary. The regions then provide a template conducive to painting.

Method and device for converting map image

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convert the map data to the data having a smaller data amount by deforming an image in a conversion objective area of the map data into the image consisting of a basic segment and displacing the basic segment of the deformed image with a corresponding text mark. SOLUTION: The image of the conversion objective area of the map data is deformed to the image consisting of the basic segments such as horizontal lines, vertical lines, etc., and the basic segments of the deformed image are displaced by the corresponding text mark, and the map plotted by the text mark is formed. Further, this map image conversion device is incorporated in a base station device transmitting/receiving the data for a portable communication equipment with an image display function, and the map data expressed by the text mark are transmitted. For instance, in a system using a PHS, a navigation center 15 processes the information easy to understand for a user based on the information from a positional information center 14. The positional information center 14 makes a phone call with the PHS 16 or provides the position of the called user as the positional information.

Image transferring method

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transferring method by which image data high in quality can be quickly transmitted to a user at a client side, and communication cost can be reduced. SOLUTION: In this image transferring method for reducing a network load and transferring picture data when data high in resolution are necessary at a client side, data transferred to the client are converted into an optimized high resolution picture by using an image conversion plug-in module 308. In this case, a screen resolution setting program 306 is used for inspecting the resolution of the display device of the client. The result generated by the program 306 is transmitted to a picture conversion program 304. The transmitted data can be turned into the image high in quality and capable of being most easily viewed in a browser to which a reader is watched.

Image conversion between raster and block formats for compression and decompression

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for converting block form image data into raster form image data by using a buffer memory. The apparatus comprises an obtainer for obtaining a number of pixels of given image data in a raster direction, wherein the given image data represents an original image. A calculator of the apparatus calculates an amount of image data temporarily stored in the buffer memory by comparing the amount of image data based on the number of pixels and a capacity of the buffer memory. A storage controller of the apparatus divides the image data based on the amount calculated by the calculator and stores the divided image data into the buffer memory. The apparatus also comprises a converter for generating raster form image data by connecting the divided image data read out from the buffer memory based on the number of pixels of the divided image data in the raster direction and the number of pixels of the original image in the raster direction.

Plant monitoring display device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reproduce and display a past process state over the wide range of a plant by successively taking out data preserved in a data storage means from the present date and time back to the specified date and time and successively variably displaying the variable image data part of an all-time monitoring display processing means. SOLUTION: A play-back processing means 23 successively takes out the process data of respective points from a process data storage means 22 from the present date and time back to the specified date and time corresponding to a program 24 for a play-back processing based on the specification of the date and time to be played back from an input device 4 and sends them out to an image preparation processing means 12. The image preparation processing means 12 tentatively stops all-time monitoring at the time of receiving a play- back instruction from the play-back processing means 23, successively performs image conversion for the process data with a point ID from the play-back processing means 23 by using the conversion data of an image conversion table 11 and varies and displays the variable image data part of a memory 13 for image display.

Radiographic image reading method

Abstract: A radiographic image reading method comprises reading plate characteristic (ID) information to a radiographic image conversion plate and carrying out image processing based on this ID information. A method of reading a radiographic image from an image conversion plate and of obtaining image information comprises (a) reading plate characteristic (ID) information to the image conversion plate to obtain information concerning the image conversion plate; and either (b) applying image processing to the image information on the basis of information concerning the image conversion plate or (b') producing warning information concerning the utilization time limit of the plate. Independent claims are also included for (i) a radiographic image conversion plate having a plate ID region with information concerning the plate production date, version, wear or material composition; (ii) a cassette in which the above radiographic image conversion plate is fitted; (iii) a radiographic image reading method comprising carrying out the above step (a), achieving a reading condition for reading image information stored in the plate on the basis of the ID information and then reading the image information on the basis of the reading condition; (iv) a radiographic image reading method comprising carrying out the above step (a) and erasing a residual image on the plate on the basis of the ID information; and (v) radiographic image reading units for carrying out all the above methods.

Picture recording/reproducing device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily specify and reconfirm a reservation image and to reduce the load for image coincidence comparison processing by converting an input image in a program being broadcast to information for indicating the features of the image, comparing it with information for indicating the features of the image to be reserved, and storing and displaying the features of the image to be reserved when they coincide. SOLUTION: An image is converted into a reservation image feature dictionary for indicating the features of the image by a reservation image conversion means 109 and then is stored at a storage medium 102 temporarily or is used for comparison with a program input image. A program input image being broadcast is converted into an input image feature dictionary information for indicating the features of the image by an image feature dictionary comparison means 107, and is compared with a reservation image feature dictionary that is the output of a conversion means 109. If they coincide each other, a guidance for urging user information input is displayed on a guidance display means 104. Therefore, for example, when the first broadcast program of a continuous drama or the like is recorded, the attached information can be easily referred to at the succeeding reservation recording/reproduction.

Image transfer system

Abstract: The system has an image conducting arrangement (2) with input and output ends and a bundle of light conducting fibers (3) held at the ends. The fibers are held so that the arrangement of the individual fibers relative to each other at the input end does not correspond to that at the output end. The system has an image conversion unit (5) at the output end with an image acquisition unit (6) and a converter unit (8). The image acquisition unit accepts the image information from the output end of the image conductor with position resolution. The converter unit receives this information and converts it so that the resulting information correspond to the arrangement of image information incident on the optical fibers. An Independent claim is also included for a method of transferring images using the arrangement.

Method and system for retrieving image

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain transmission shortening also image conversion time at the time of retrieving a world wide web(WWW) on the Internet from a facsimile terminal through a network SOLUTION: A hyper text markup language(HTML) file is retrieved (S3) by the specification of a uniform resource locator(URL) (S1) and conversion to the address of the URL (S2) and the HTML file is stored (S4) At the time of succeeding HTML file retrieval, the retrieved HTML file is compared with the HTML file retrieved in the past (S5), and when both the HTML files are identical, image data cached by the past retrieval and image conversion are extracted (S6) and transmitted to a facsimile terminal (S9) When both the HTML files are different from each other, the current HTML file is converted into an image (S7) The generated image data are cached for succeeding retrieval and after (S8)

Image reparation device and recording medium

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image preparation device and a recording medium needing image fetching only one time and capable of using the fetched images for various output devices and easily correcting the images or the like as well. SOLUTION: The resolution of a scanner 5 is set as high as possible, a bit number to one pixel is set large, a photo original 3 is scanned by the same condition at all times and master data 7 are prepared and recorded in a master archive 9. The image conversion 11 of resolution conversion and color tone correction, etc., is performed to the master data 7 and destination data 15 are prepared and preserved in a destination archive 17.

Image synthesizing device, image conversion device, and methods

Abstract: A predetermined display area P of a sub-image is synthesized and displayed in a predetermined display area Q of a main image displayed on a display (9) by an image synthesizing device. The image synthesizing device has a frame memory from which, after the data in the synthesized display area P among the sub-image data are continuously stored in the order of data input, when the scanning address of the main image data corresponds to the display region Q, the stored sub-image data are read in the order of the input, and a selector (4) to which the main image data displayed on the display (9) and the sub-image data read out of the frame memory are inputted and which, when the scanning address of the main image data corresponds to the display region Q, switches the selected channel for the main image data to a channel for the sub-image data and outputs the sub-image data to the display (9) and allow the sub-image data to be displayed on the display (9). The capacity of the frame memory for the image synthesizing can be reduced, and the sub-image can be magnified or reduced with an arbitrary magnification factor or reduction factor.

Production of image forming material having irregular feeling

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently produce an image forming material capable of being produced even when there is no actual object of the original picture and having irregular surface imparting a surface quality feeling along the content of an image like writing touch in stable quality. SOLUTION: The image manuscript data of stationary image captured by a computer is converted to pattern image data of a predetermined tone according to an image conversion program converting the arrangement of colors or hues and the pattern image data is outputted to an output sheet 1 such as paper or a plastic film and a white and black image manuscript is formed from the image manuscript data or pattern image data and a negative image embossed plate 3 is formed from the white and black image manuscript and the output sheet 1, a transparent or translucent thermosetting film and the embossed plate are successively superposed to be heated and pressed.

Surface state inspection device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the influence of, for example, the shape of an object and to achieve a reliable inspection by statistically professing the density value of each part of an image, and converting the scattering to a statistical amount and comparing it with a preset reference value SOLUTION: A lighting device 1 applies light from an upper side with lighting equipment 1A and 1B to detect the nonuniformity in the paint of, for example, an object roofing tile 101 CCD cameras 2A and 2B pick up the images of each half surface part from the upper side of the roofing tile 101 An image signal that is picked up is sent to an image conversion part 4A via an A/D conversion device 3 The image conversion part 4A converts each concentration value to a statistical amount When a judgment part 5A receives an image signal from the image conversion part 4A, it reads a selection reference value from a measurement part 5B and examines the presence or absence of a partial area surrounded by a value that is equal to or more than the selection reference value When there is a partial area due to paint nonuniformity, and area value is calculated and is compared with a criterion read from the setting part 5B, thus judging that the title 101 is a conforming article if the area value is smaller than the criterion

Image conversion method and image conversion device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate the stereoscopic information of three-dimensionally viewed still images or dynamic images by generating the image information of an angle moved in a horizontal direction from the image information of source images, turning it to stereoscopic vision image information and composing source image information and the stereoscopic vision image information. SOLUTION: When an image obtaining part 104 obtains the source image information of a photograph or the like, the source image information is inputted to the stereoscopic vision image information generation means 102 and stereoscopic image information generation means 103 of this image conversion device 101. The means 102 generates the stereoscopic vision image information of the angle moved in the horizontal direction for the source images by an image conversion processing and outputs it to the means 103. The means 103 composes the source image information and the stereoscopic vision image information and outputs them as stereoscopic image information to a stereoscopic image information output part 105 and the stereoscopic image information is converted into recording signals and transmission signals, etc. By an image information reproducing device, the recording signals and the transmission signals are converted into image information displayable on a monitor or the like and displayed on the monitor or the like as stereoscopic images.

Device and method for image conversion, device and method for learning, image conversion system, and providing medium

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently correct an image which has deteriorated by varying the degree of an applied higher-order combination corresponding to partial characteristics of the image. SOLUTION: An area segmentation part 1 sections pixel data into a specific range as a set of class taps out of inputted image data, corresponding to the feature quantity outputted by a feature extraction part 3 and outputs it to an earby waveform estimation part 4 and an ADRC pattern extraction part 7. An area segmentation part 2 sections pixel data within a specific range as a set of prediction taps from the inputted image data and outputs the pixel data constituting the prediction taps to a prediction degree switching part 6. The nearby waveform estimation part 4 detects the waveform characteristics of the pixel of interest in the inputted class taps and outputs its information to a prediction degree selection part 5. The prediction higher order selection part 5 selects one of higher orders 1 to 3 of an applied combination according to an inputted neighboring difference value.