Showing papers on "Image processing published in 1988"

Fundamentals of digital image processing

Abstract: Introduction. 1. Two Dimensional Systems and Mathematical Preliminaries. 2. Image Perception. 3. Image Sampling and Quantization. 4. Image Transforms. 5. Image Representation by Stochastic Models. 6. Image Enhancement. 7. Image Filtering and Restoration. 8. Image Analysis and Computer Vision. 9. Image Reconstruction From Projections. 10. Image Data Compression.

A survey of thresholding techniques

Abstract: In digital image processing, thresholding is a well-known technique for image segmentation. Because of its wide applicability to other areas of the digital image processing, quite a number of thresholding methods have been proposed over the years. In this paper, we present a survey of thresholding techniques and update the earlier survey work by Weszka (Comput. Vision Graphics & Image Process 7, 1978 , 259–265) and Fu and Mu (Pattern Recognit. 13, 1981 , 3–16). We attempt to evaluate the performance of some automatic global thresholding methods using the criterion functions such as uniformity and shape measures. The evaluation is based on some real world images.

A survey of the Hough transform

Abstract: We present a comprehensive review of the Hough transform, HT, in image processing and computer vision. It has long been recognized as a technique of almost unique promise for shape and motion analysis in images containing noisy, missing, and extraneous data but its adoption has been slow due to its computational and storage complexity and the lack of a detailed understanding of its properties. However, in recent years much progress has been made in these areas. In this review we discuss ideas for the efficient implementation of the HT and present results on the analytic and empirical performance of various methods. We also report the relationship of Hough methods and other transforms and consider applications in which the HT has been used. It seems likely that the HT will be an increasingly used technique and we hope that this survey will provide a useful guide to quickly acquaint researchers with the main literature in this research area.

Volume rendering

Abstract: A technique for rendering images of volumes containing mixtures of materials is presented. The shading model allows both the interior of a material and the boundary between materials to be colored. Image projection is performed by simulating the absorption of light along the ray path to the eye. The algorithms used are designed to avoid artifacts caused by aliasing and quantization and can be efficiently implemented on an image computer. Images from a variety of applications are shown.

VLSI array processors

Abstract: High speed signal processing depends critically on parallel processor technology. In most applications, general-purpose parallel computers cannot offer satisfactory real-time processing speed due to severe system overhead. Therefore, for real-time digital signal processing (DSP) systems, special-purpose array processors have become the only appealing alternative. In designing or using such array Processors, most signal processing algorithms share the critical attributes of regularity, recursiveness, and local communication. These properties are effectively exploited in innovative systolic and wavefront array processors. These arrays maximize the strength of very large scale integration (VLSI) in terms of intensive and pipelined computing, and yet circumvent its main limitation on communication. The application domain of such array processors covers a very broad range, including digital filtering, spectrum estimation, adaptive array processing, image/vision processing, and seismic and tomographic signal processing, This article provides a general overview of VLSI array processors and a unified treatment from algorithm, architecture, and application perspectives.

Computer Processing of Remotely-Sensed Images

Abstract: Computer processing of remotely-sensed images , Computer processing of remotely-sensed images , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی

Design of an image edge detection filter using the Sobel operator

Abstract: The architecture of the edge detector presented is highly pipeline to perform the computations of gradient magnitude and direction for the output image samples The chip design is based on a 2- mu m, double-metal, CMOS technology and was implemented using a silicon compiler system in less than 2 man-months It is designed to operate with a 10-MHz two-phase clock, and it performs approximately 200*10/sup 6/ additions/s to provide the required magnitude and direction outputs every clock cycle The function of the chip has been demonstrated with a prototype system that is performing image edge detection in real time >

A robust algorithm for text string separation from mixed text/graphics images

Abstract: The development and implementation of an algorithm for automated text string separation that is relatively independent of changes in text font style and size and of string orientation are described. It is intended for use in an automated system for document analysis. The principal parts of the algorithm are the generation of connected components and the application of the Hough transform in order to group components into logical character strings that can then be separated from the graphics. The algorithm outputs two images, one containing text strings and the other graphics. These images can then be processed by suitable character recognition and graphics recognition systems. The performance of the algorithm, both in terms of its effectiveness and computational efficiency, was evaluated using several test images and showed superior performance compared to other techniques. >

Computer Processing of Remotely-Sensed Images: An Introduction

Abstract: Preface to the First Edition.Preface to the Second Edition .Preface to the Third Edition.List of Examples.1. Remote Sensing: Basic Principles.1.1 Introduction.1.2 Electromagnetic radiation and its properties.1.2.1 Terminology.1.2.2 Nature of electromagnetic radiation.1.2.3 The electromagnetic spectrum.1.2.4 Sources of electromagnetic radiation.1.2.5 Interactions with the Earth's atmosphere.1.3 Interaction with Earth-surface materials.1.3.1 Introduction.1.3.2 Spectral reflectance of Earth surface materials.1.3.2.1 Vegetation.1.3.2.2 Geology.1.3.2.3 Water bodies.1.3.2.4 Soils.1.4 Summary.2. Remote Sensing Platforms and Sensors.2.1 Introduction.2.2 Characteristics of imaging remote sensing instruments.2.2.1 Spatial resolution.2.2.2 Spectral resolution.2.2.3 Radiometric resolution.2.3 Optical, near-infrared and thermal imaging sensors.2.3.1 Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR).2.3.2 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR).2.3.3 MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer).2.3.4 Ocean observing instruments.2.3.5 IRS-1 LISS.2.3.6 Landsat Instruments.2.3.6.1 Landsat Multi-spectral Scanner (MSS).2.3.6.2 Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM).2.3.6.3 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+).2.3.6.4 Landsat follow-on programme.2.3.7 SPOT sensors.2.3.7.1 SPOT High Resolution Visible (HRV).2.3.7.2 Vegetation (VGT).2.3.7.3 SPOT follow-on programme.2.3.8 Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER).2.3.9 High-resolution commercial and micro-satellite systems.2.3.9.1 High-resolution commercial satellites - IKONOS.2.3.9.2 High-resolution commercial satellites - QuickBird.2.4 Microwave imaging sensors.2.4.1 ERS SAR.2.4.2 RADARSAT.2.5 Summary.3. Hardware and Software Aspects of Digital Image Processing.3.1 Introduction.3.2 Properties of digital remote sensing data.3.2.1 Digital data.3.2.2 Data formats.3.2.3 System processing.3.3 MIPS software.3.3.1 Installing MIPS.3.3.2 Using MIPS.3.3.3 Summary of MIPS functions.3.4 Summary.4. Pre-processing of Remotely Sensed Data.4.1 Introduction.4.2 Cosmetic operations.4.2.1 Missing scan lines.4.2.2 De-striping methods.4.2.2.1 Linear method.4.2.2.2 Histogram matching.4.2.2.3 Other destriping methods.4.3 Geometric correction and registration.4.3.1 Orbital geometry model.4.3.2 Transformation based on ground control points.4.3.3 Resampling procedures.4.3.4 Image registration.4.3.5 Other geometric correction methods.4.4 Atmospheric correction.4.4.1 Background.4.4.2 Image-based methods.4.4.3 Radiative transfer models.4.4.4 Empirical line method.4.5 Illumination and view angle effects.4.6 Sensor calibration.4.7 Terrain effects.4.8 Summary.5. Image Enhancement Techniques.5.1 Introduction.5.2 Human visual system.5.3 Contrast enhancement.5.3.1 Linear contrast stretch.5.3.2 Histogram equalisation.5.3.3 Gaussian Stretch.5.4 Pseudocolour enghancement.5.4.1 Density slicing.5.4.2 Pseudocolour transform.5.5 Summary.6. Image Transforms.6.1 Introduction.6.2 Arithmetic operations.6.2.1 Image addition.6.2.2 Image subtraction.6.2.3 Image multiplication.6.2.4 Image division and vegetation ratios.6.3 Empirically based image transforms.6.3.1 Perpendicular Vegetation Index.6.3.2 Tasselled Cap (Kauth-Thomas) transformation.6.4 Principal Components Analysis.6.4.1 Standard Principal Components Analysis.6.4.2 Noise-adjusted Principal Components Analysis.6.4.3 Decorrelation stretch.6.5 Hue, Saturation and Intensity (HIS) transform.6.6 The Discrete Fourier Transform.6.6.1 Introduction.6.6.2 Two-dimensional DFT.6.6.3 Applications.6.7 The Discrete Wavelet Transform.6.7.1 Introduction.6.7.2 The one-dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform.6.7.3 The two-dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform.6.8 Summary.7. Filtering Techniques.7.1 Introduction.7.2 Spatial domain low-pass (smoothing) filters.7.2.1 Moving average filter.7.2.2 Median filter.7.2.3 Adaptive filters.7.3 Spatial domain high-pass (sharpening) filters.7.3.1 Image subtraction method.7.3.2 Derivative-based methods.7.4 Spatial domain edge detectors.7.5 Frequency domain filters.7.6 Summary.8. Classification.8.1 Introduction.8.2 Geometrical basis of classification.8.3 Unsupervised classification.8.3.1 The k-means algorithm.8.3.2 ISODATA.8.3.3 A modified k-means algorithm.8.4 Supervised classification.8.4.1 Training samples.8.4.2 Statistical classifiers.8.4.2.1 Parallelepiped classifier.8.4.2.2 Centroid (k-means) classifier.8.4.2.3 Maximum likelihood method.8.4.3 Neural classifiers.8.5 Fuzzy classification and linear spectral unmixing.8.5.1 The linear mixture model.8.5.2 Fuzzy classifiers.8.6 Other approaches to image classification.8.7 Incorporation of non-spectral features.8.7.1 Texture.8.7.2 Use of external data.8.8 Contextual information.8.9 Feature selection.8.10 Classification accuracy.8.11 Summary.9. Advanced Topics.9.1 Introduction.9.2 SAR Interferometry.9.2.1 Basic principles.9.2.3 Interferometric processing.9.2.3 Problems in SAR interferometry.9.2.4 Applications of SAR interferometry.9.3 Imaging spectrometry.9.3.1 Introduction.9.3.2 Processing imaging spectrometer data.9.3.2.1 Derivative analysis.9.3.2.2 Smoothing and denoising the reflectance spectrum Savitzky-Golay polynomial smoothing Denoising using the Discrete Wavelet Transform.9.3.2.3 Determinationof 'red edge' characteristics of vegetation.9.3.2.4 Continuum removal.9.4 Lidar.9.4.1 Introduction.9.4.2 Lidar details.9.4.3 Lidar applications.Appendix A: Description of Sample Image Data Sets.References.Index.

The Physics of Medical Imaging

Abstract: Introduction - and some challenging questions. In the beginning. Diagnostic radiology with x-rays: Introduction The imaging system and image formation Photon interactions Important physical parameters X-ray tubes Image receptors Digital radiology. Quality assurance and image improvement in diagnostic radiology with x-rays. Introduction to quality assurance: Basic quality-assurance tests for x-ray sets Specific quality-assurance tests Data collection and presentation of the results Summary of quality assurance Improvement in radiographic quality Scatter removal Contrast enhancement Summary of methods of image enhancement. X-ray transmission computed tomography: The need for sectional images The principles of sectional imaging Fourier-based solutions: The method of convolution and backprojection Iterative methods of reconstruction Other considerations. Clinical applications of X-ray computed tomography in radiotherapy planning: X-ray computed tomography scanners and their role in planning Non-standard computed tomography scanners. The physics of radioisotope imaging: Introduction Radiation detectors Radioisotope imaging equipment Radionuclides for imaging The role of computers in radioisotope imaging Static and dynamic planar scintigraphy Emission computed tomography Quality control and performance assessment of radioisotope imaging equipment Clinical applications of radioisotope imaging. Diagnostic Ultrasound: Introduction Basic physics Engineering principles of ultrasonic imaging Clinical applications and biological aspects of diagnostic ultrasound Research topics. Spatially localised nuclear magnetic resonance: Introduction The development of nuclear magnetic resonance Principles of nuclear magnetic resonance Nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequences Relaxation processes and their measurement Nuclear magnetic resonance image acquisition and reconstruction Spatially localised spectroscopy Instrumentation Nuclear magnetic resonance safety. Physical aspects of infrared imaging: Introduction Infrared photography Transilluminaton Infrared imaging Liquid-crystal thermography Microwave thermography. Imaging of tissue electrical impedance: The electrical behaviour of tissue Tissue impedance imaging Suggested clinical applications of applied potential tomography. Imaging by diaphanography: Clinical applications Physical basis of transillumination Experimental arrangements. The mathematics of image formation and image processing: The concept of object and image The relationship between object and image The general image processing problem Discrete Fourier representation and the models for imaging systems The general theory of image restoration Image sampling Two examples of image processing from modern clinical practice Iterative image processing. Perception and interpretation of images. Introduction The eye and brain as a stage in an imaging system Spatial and contrast resolution Perception of moving images Quantitative measures of investigative performance. Computer requirements of imaging systems: Single- versus multi-user systems Generation and transfer of images Processing speed Display of medical images Three-dimensional image display: methodology Three-dimensional image display: clinical applications. Epilogue: Introduction The impact of radiation hazard on medical imaging practice Attributes and relative roles of imaging modalities References. Index.

Introduction to Digital Signal Processing

Abstract: An Introduction to Digital Signal Processing is written for those who need to understand and use digital signal processing and yet do not wish to wade through a multi-semester course sequence. Using only calculus-level mathematics, this book progresses rapidly through the fundamentals to advanced topics such as iterative least squares design of IIR filters, inverse filters, power spectral estimation, and multidimensional applications--all in one concise volume.

The generalized Gabor scheme of image representation in biological and machine vision

Abstract: A scheme suitable for visual information representation in a combined frequency-position space is investigated through image decomposition into a finite set of two-dimensional Gabor elementary functions (GEF) The scheme is generalized to account for the position-dependent Gabor-sampling rate, oversampling, logarithmic frequency scaling and phase-quantization characteristic of the visual system Comparison of reconstructed signal highlights the advantages of the generalized Gabor scheme in coding typical bandlimited images It is shown that there exists a tradeoff between the number of frequency components used per position and the number of such clusters (sampling rate) utilized along the spatial coordinate >

Image sequence enhancement using sub-pixel displacements

Abstract: Given a sequence of images taken from a moving camera, they are registered with subpixel accuracy in respect to translation and rotation. The subpixel registration allows image enhancement with respect to improved resolution and noise cleaning. Both the registration and the enhancement procedures are described. The methods are particularly useful for image sequences taken from an aircraft or satellite where images in a sequence differ mostly by translation and rotation. In these cases, the process results in images that are stable, clean, and sharp. >

Dynamic monocular machine vision

Abstract: A new approach to real-time machine vision in dynamic scenes is presented based on special hardware and methods for feature extraction and information processing. Using integral spatio-temporal models, it by-passes the nonunique inversion of the perspective projection by applying recursive least squares filtering. By prediction error feedback methods similar to those used in modern control theory, all spatial state variables including the velocity components are estimated. Only the last image of the sequence needs to be evaluated, thereby alleviating the real-time image sequence processing task.

The two-dimensional adaptive LMS (TDLMS) algorithm

Abstract: A two-dimensional least-mean-square (TDLMS) adaptive algorithm based on the method of steepest decent is proposed and applied to noise reduction in images. The adaptive property of the TDLMS algorithm enables the filter to have an improved tracking performance in nonstationary images. The results presented show that the TDLMS algorithm can be used successfully to reduce noise in images. The algorithm complexity is 2(N*N) multiplications and the same number of additions per image sample, where N is the parameter-matrix dimension. Analysis and convergence properties of the LMS algorithm in the one-dimensional case presented by other authors is shown to be applicable to this algorithm. The algorithm can be used in a number of two-dimensional applications such as image enhancement and image data processing. >

Computer-Assisted Microscopy: The Measurement and Analysis of Images

Abstract: 1 Introduction.- The importance of images.- Why measure images?.- Computer methods: an overview.- Implementation.- Acquisition and processing of images.- Measurements within images.- More than two dimensions.- 2 Acquiring Images.- Image sources.- Multi-spectral images.- Image sensors.- Digitization.- Specifications.- References.- 3 Image Processing.- Point operations.- Time sequences.- Correcting image defects - averaging to reduce noise.- Reducing noise in a single image.- Frequency space.- Color images.- Shading correction.- Fitting backgrounds.- Rubber sheeting.- Image sharpening.- Focussing images.- References.- 4 Segmentation of Edges and Lines.- Defining a feature and its boundary.- Roberts' cross edge operator.- The Sobel and Kirsch operators.- Other edge-finding methods.- Other segmentation methods.- The Hough transform.- Touching features.- Manual outlining.- References.- 5 Discrimination and Thresholding.- Brightness thresholds.- Thresholding after processing.- Selecting threshold settings.- The need for automatic thresholding.- Automatic methods.- Histogram minimum method.- Minimum area sensitivity method 1ll.- Minimum perimeter sensitivity method.- Reproducibility testing.- Fixed percentage setting.- Color images.- Encoding binary images.- Contiguity.- References.- 6 Binary Image Editing.- Manual editing.- Combining images.- Neighbor operations.- Skeletonization.- Measurement using binary image editing.- Covariance.- Watershed segmentation.- Mosaic amalgamation and fractal dimensions.- Contiguity and filling interior holes.- References.- 7 Image Measurements.- Reference areas.- Boundary curvature.- Feature measurements.- Perimeter points.- Length and breadth.- Radius of curvature.- Image processing approaches.- Counting neighbor patterns.- Shape.- Corners as a measure of shape.- Harmonic analysis.- Position.- Neighbor relationships.- Edge effects.- Brightness.- References.- 8 Stereological Interpretation of Measurement Data.- Global measurements.- Global parameters.- Mean free path.- Problems in 3-D interpretation.- Feature specific measurements.- Distribution histograms of size.- Interpreting distributions.- Nonparametric tests.- Cumulative plots.- Plotting shape and position data.- Other plots.- References.- 9 Object Recognition.- Locating features.- Parametric object description.- Distinguishing populations.- Decision points.- Other identification methods.- An example.- Comparing multiple populations.- An example of contextual learning.- Other applications.- Artificial intelligence.- References.- 10 Surface Image Measurements.- Depth cues.- Image contrast.- Shape from texture.- The scanning electron microscope.- Line width measurement.- Roughness and fractal dimensions.- Other surface measurement methods.- References.- 11 Stereoscopy.- Principles from human vision.- Measurement of elevation from parallax.- Presentation of the data.- Automatic fusion.- Stereoscopy in transparent volumes.- References.- 12 Serial Sections.- Obtaining serial section images.- Optical sectioning.- Presentation of 3-D image information.- Aligning slices.- Displays of outline images.- Surface modelling.- Measurements on surface-modelled objects.- Voxel displays.- Measurements on voxel images.- Network analysis.- Connectivity.- References.- 13 Tomography.- Reconstruction.- Instrumentation.- 3-D Imaging.- References.- 14 Lessons from Human Vision.- The language of structure.- Illusion.- Conclusion.- References.- For further reading.

Detecting buildings in aerial images

Abstract: Detecting building structures in aerial images is a task of importance for many applications. Low-level segmentation rarely gives a complete outline of the desired structures. We use a generic model of the shapes of the structures we are looking for — that they are rectangular or composed of rectangular components. We also use shadows cast by buildings to confirm their presence and to estimate their height. Our techniques have been tested on images with density typical of suburban areas.

Stereo disparity computation using Gabor filters

Abstract: A solution to the correspondence problem for stereopsis is proposed using the differences in the complex phase of local spatial frequency components. One-dimensional spatial Gabor filters (Gabor 1946; Marcelja 1980), at different positions and spatial frequencies are convolved with each member of a stereo pair. The difference between the complex phase at corresponding points in the two images is used to find the stereo disparity. Disparity values are combined across spatial frequencies for each image location. Three-dimensional depth maps have been computed from real images under standard lighting conditions, as well as from random-dot stereograms (Julesz 1971). The algorithm can discriminate disparities significantly smaller than the width of a pixel. It is possible that a similar mechanism might be used in the human visual system.

Vehicle detection through image processing for traffic surveillance and control

Abstract: A vehicle detection system for providing data characteristic of traffic conditions includes a camera overlooking a roadway section for providing video signals representative of the field (traffic scene), and a digitizer for digitizing these signals and providing successive arrays of pixels (picture elements) characteristic of the field at successive points in space and time. A video monitor coupled to the camera provides a visual image of the field of view. Through use of a terminal and in conjunction with the monitor, an operator controls a formatter so as to select a subarray of pixels corresponding to specific sections in the field of view. A microprocessor then processes the intensity values representative of the selected portion of the field of view in accordance with spatial and/or temporal processing methods to generate data characteristic of the presence and passage of vehicles. This data can be utilized for real-time traffic surveillance and control, or stored in memory for subsequent processing and evaluation of traffic flow conditions.

Effects of subpixel image restoration on digital correlation error estimates

Abstract: The results of initial studies to determine the key parameters influencing the performance of a computer-based measurement system are presented. The system components were modeled, and a representative intensity pattern was chosen and deformed by known amounts. The effect of varying different model parameters in the model was analyzed numerically. The most significant parameters were found to be: (1) the number of quantization levels in the digitization process, (2) the ratio of the frequency of the signal to the frequency of the sampling, and (3) the form of the intensity interpolation function.

Pose determination of a three-dimensional object using triangle pairs

Abstract: A procedure is presented to estimate the unconstrained three-dimensional location and orientation of an object with a known shape when it is visible in a single image. Using a generalized Hough transform, all six parameters of the object position are estimated from the distribution of values determined by matching triples of points on the object to possibly corresponding triples in the image. Most likely candidates for location are found, and then the remaining rotational parameters are evaluated. Two solutions are generally admitted to the distribution by every match of triangles. The number of possible matches is reduced by checking a simple geometric relation among triples. Even with partial occlusion, experiments indicate that the procedure is very reliably accurate, although optimization can further improve estimates of the parameters. >

X-ray scatter removal by deconvolution.

Abstract: The distribution of scattered x rays detected in a two-dimensional projection radiograph at diagnostic x-ray energies is measured as a function of field size and object thickness at a fixed x-ray potential and air gap. An image intensifier-TV based imaging system is used for image acquisition, manipulation, and analysis. A scatter point spread function (PSF) with an assumed linear, spatially invariant response is modeled as a modified Gaussian distribution, and is characterized by two parameters describing the width of the distribution and the fraction of scattered events detected. The PSF parameters are determined from analysis of images obtained with radio-opaque lead disks centrally placed on the source side of a homogeneous phantom. Analytical methods are used to convert the PSF into the frequency domain. Numerical inversion provides an inverse filter that operates on frequency transformed, scatter degraded images. Resultant inverse transformed images demonstrate the nonarbitrary removal of scatter, increased radiographic contrast, and improved quantitative accuracy. The use of the deconvolution method appears to be clinically applicable to a variety of digital projection images.

Subband coding of images using vector quantization

Abstract: A novel two-dimensional subband coding technique is presented that can be applied to images as well as speech. A frequency-band decomposition of the image is carried out by means of 2D separable quadrature mirror filters, which split the image spectrum into 16 equal-rate subbands. These 16 parallel subband signals are regarded as a 16-dimensional vector source and coded as such using vector quantization. In the asymptotic case of high bit rates, a theoretical analysis yields that a lower bound to the gain is attainable by choosing this approach over scalar quantization of each subband with an optimal bit allocation. It is shown that vector quantization in this scheme has several advantages over coding the subbands separately. Experimental results are given, and it is shown the scheme has a performance that is comparable to that of more complex coding techniques. >

A spatial thresholding method for image segmentation

Abstract: Several model-based algorithms for threshold selection are presented, concentrating on the two-population univariate case in which an image contains an object and background. It is shown how the main ideas behind two important nonspatial thresholding algorithms follow from classical discriminant analysis. Novel thresholding algorithms that make use of available local/spatial information are then given. It is found that an algorithm using alternating mean thresholding and median filtering provides an acceptable method when the image is relatively highly contaminated, and seems to depend less on initial values than other procedures. The methods are also applicable to multispectral k-population images. >

A model for logarithmic image processing

Abstract: SUMMARY Up to now, image processing and image analysis techniques have borrowed their basic tools from functional analysis: Fourier filtering, differential and integral calculus, and so on. These tools, however, only realize their efficiency when they are put into a well-defined algebraic frame, most of the time of a vectorial nature. Unfortunately, the class of functions modelling ‘images’, commonly referred to as ‘grey tone functions’ does not necessarily present this very type of structure. We present here an operation for the ‘addition’ of two images, with a physical justification in the context of transmitted light. Such an addition permits the construction of the family of ‘positive homothetics' of the grey tone function at hand. The vectorial context sought is well defined: The class of images associated with the class of their grey tone functions naturally becomes the positive cone of an ordered real vector space. Furthermore, the proposed model holds for logarithmic imaging and is compatible with what is known about the human visual process. This model has been called ‘LIP’ (logarithmic image processing model).

Document image processing system

Abstract: Documents, such as bank checks, are processed at a high rate of speed on an image processing system which optically scans the documents and converts optically perceptible data on the documents into video image data. The video image data from the scanner is compressed by data compression techniques and the compressed data is sent over a high speed data channel to a high speed mass storage device which receives and temporarily stores the data. A lower speed mass data storage device, such as an optical disk, is connected for receiving at a lower data transfer rate the compressed video image data and for storing the video image data for subsequent retrieval. The system also includes real-time quality control systems for monitoring the quality of the image data to detect the existence of unacceptable image quality data and for generating a signal which can be used for immediately stopping the generation of unacceptable quality image data.

Computerized video imaging system for creating a realistic depiction of a simulated object in an actual environment

Abstract: A system and method for producing highly realistic video images which depict the appearance of a simulated structure in an actual environment, and provides for accurate placement of the structure in the environment and matching of the perspective of the structure with that of the environment so that a highly realistic result is achieved The system includes a video input means, such as a video camera and video recorder, by which a video image of the actual environment may be captured A graphics processor unit receives the video image from the video input means and stores it in rasterized form Field data input means is provided for receiving field location data regarding the precise location of the captured video image and field perspective data regarding the perspective of the captured image Object data input means is also provided for receiving data, such as CAD data for example, for a three-dimensional model of a simulated object which is proposed to be included in the environment From the three-dimensional model of the object, a two-dimensional perspective representation of the object is generated, which accurately matches the perspective of the captured video image The thus generated two-dimensional perspective representation is then merged with the rasterized video image and accurately positioned at its proper location in the environment