 Pattern recognition apparatus and method |
| We claim: 1. A pattern recognition system comprising: video camera means for generating a video ... |
|
| Reflector for multiple source lighting fixture |
| The present invention provides an improvement in lighting fixtures which permits the pattern and ... |
|
| Two-dimensional object recognition using chain codes, histogram normalization and trellis algorithm |
| A new system for classifying a two-dimensional object is disclosed. In its broadest aspects, the ... |
|
| Image processing method |
| Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method in which ... |
|
| Mark detecting method and apparatus |
| According to the above-identified proposal, however, the search has to be made while moving the ... |
|
| Optical character recognition system and method |
| Accordingly, a system and method for optical character recognition are provided which obviate the ... |
|
| Optical interprogation system for use in constructing flat tension shadow mask CRTS |
| What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for interrogating at least one CRT workpiece, comprising; a) a ... |
|
| Structured illumination autonomous machine vision system |
| I claim: 1. A method of providing information for automatically determining pathway boundaries for ... |
|
| Solder joint locator |
| Pursuant to the present invention, a method and system is provided for automatically detecting ... |
|
|
Image processing using distance as a function of direction
| Details |
Inventors: Cass, Todd A.; Huttenlocher, Daniel P.; Wayner, Peter C.;
Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Stamford, CT)
Primary Examiner: Boudreau; Leo H.
Assistant Examiner: Fox; David
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Characteristics of images such as skew of lines of text or dominant typeface of characters are detected by producing distance data. Distance data is produced for each of a number of starting pixels within an image. Each starting pixel meets a criterion, such as an edge pixel or a pixel inside a connected component. Each starting pixel's distance data indicates the distance in each of a number of directions from the starting pixel to another pixel at which the image meets another criterion. For example, to detect skew of lines of text, the distance data can indicate distance from a starting pixel at an edge across white pixels to another edge. To detect dominant typeface, the distance data can indicate distance from a starting pixel at an edge or inside a connected component across black pixels to another edge. The separating angle between adjacent directions can be small enough to detect features of an appropriate size at an appropriate distance, such as features of character size at the average intercharacter spacing. The distances at each direction from all the starting pixels can be averaged to obtain a combined distance at each direction. A sufficient number of starting pixels can be used so that the combined distance is approximately the same as if every pixel in the image were a starting pixel. The combined distances at all the directions form a profile. |
|
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides techniques for analyzing an image.
Data defining the image can be used to obtain distance data indicating distances in each of a plurality of directions from a starting location to other locations that meet a criterion, such as edge pixels.
The distance data can be stored or transmitted for use in subsequent image analysis operations.
Many conventional techniques extract information about image characteristics.
For example, some conventional text image analysis techniques obtain projection histograms, and the histograms can then be used for segmentation and recognition.
Various other techniques are known.
One aspect of the invention is based on the discovery of a new technique for obtaining information about image characteristics.
This technique obtains distance data indicating distances in each of a plurality of directions from a location in the image to other locations that meet a criterion.
The resulting distance data can then be used for a variety of image analysis operations.
For example, distance data obtained from an image that includes text can then be used in further new techniques that detect skew of text lines or that identify dominant typeface.
The distance data technique of the invention can be implemented by following lines through an image that start at a common starting location and that extend in each of a plurality of directions.
The technique measures length as it follows each line until a respective ending location is reached at which the image meets the criterion.
The length of the line from the starting location to the ending location is the distance in the direction.
For example, the ending criterion could be an edge, so that the distance could be the length across white pixels to the nearest black pixel or the length across black pixels to the nearest white pixel.
The distant data technique can be implemented with a machine that includes memory for storing data items that each indicate a value for a respective location in the image
|
| Related patents |
|
|
Lumber defect scanning including multi-dimensional pattern recognition
In accordance with the present invention, a method for identifying a defect relative to a given wood article begins by collecting a first set of data values ...
|
|
|
Demodulation and phase estimation of two-dimensional patterns
INCLUDING BEST MODE Consider a two-dimensional fringe pattern with intensity of the fringe pattern as follows f(x,y)=a(x,y)+b(x,y), cos [2π(u0{x-x0}+v0{y-y0})-&#...
|
|
|
Component shape recognition method
An object of the present invention is to provide a component shape recognition method which enables recognition of the shape of a component which is placed at a rotated ...
|
|
|
Wire bonding inspection equipment
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide wire bonding inspection equipment which is capable of automatically breaking bonding wires of defective ...
|
|
|
Wire bonding external appearance inspecting apparatus
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wire bonding external appearance inspecting apparatus by which optimum illumination directions can be ...
|
|
|
Method and apparatus for machine vision classification and tracking
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present ...
|
|
|
Efficient image registration
An efficient registration method and apparatus provides substantial registration of all of the features common to a pair of images to be registered, even when one of the ...
|
|
|
Automated optical inspection apparatus
This invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically locating the bond of a wire to a lead frame and semiconductor chip or similar device on one machine as ...
|
|
|
Image processing coefficient determination method, image processing coefficient calculation system, image processing system, image processing method, and storage medium
OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram to show one embodiment of the invention. In the figure, numeral 1 is a process operation section, numeral 2 is an ...
|
|
|
Digital image processing
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a typical hardware layout according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a comparison between a 4-bit grey scale and an 8-bit ...
|
|
|
Image Analysis 
