EP0165734A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of an image model and inspection of a pixel representation of an image
Assignee: Bank of England
•
Filing: 1985-05-31
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A method of inspecting a pixel for tolerable variation from a corresponding selected pixel in a master image comprises establishing a data word of which the bits each indicate whether or not all the master image pixels in the neighbourhood of the selected pixel all have values (i.e. brightness values) within a respective range. A data representing the value of the inspected pixel is compared simultaneously with the ranges of values asssociated with the bits of the data word, which provides gating for the comparisons.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/20; G07D7/2075; G07D7/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of representing in signal form a given pixel of an image, comprising defining a matrix composed of a multiplicity of pixels in the neighbourhood of the said given pixel; providing a first signal value when all said multiplicity of pixels have a brightness value within a predetermined range of brightness values; and providing a second signal value when at least one of said pixels has a brightness value outside said range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of representing in signal form a given pixel of an image, comprising defining a matrix composed of a multiplicity of pixels in the neighbourhood of the said given pixel; providing a first signal value when all said multiplicity of pixels have a brightness value within a predetermined range of brightness values; and providing a second signal value when at least one of said pixels has a brightness value outside said range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of representing in signal form a model of an image composed of pixels, comprising, for each of a multiplicity of said pixels, performing the method of claim 1 so as to obtain an array of signal values each representing the signal value of the matrix defined for a respective pixel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 2 comprising developing a plurality of arrays of signal values, wherein the signal values are determined in each array according to a respective one of a plurality of different ranges of brightness values.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the signal values are binary.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of developing a signal model of an image composed of pixels, comprising, for each given pixel: defining a range of brightness values; defining a matrix composed of a multiplicity of pixels in the neighbourhood of the respective given pixel; testing the brightness value of each pixel in the matrix; establishing a first signal value if all the pixels in the matrix have brightness values within the said range; and establishing a second signal value if at least one of said pixels in said matrix has a brightness value outside said range, so as to provide an array of signal values each representative of a matrix defined for a respective given pixel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of developing a signal model of an image composed of pixels, comprising, for each given pixel: defining a range of brightness values; defining a matrix composed of a multiplicity of pixels in the neighbourhood of the respective given pixel; testing the brightness value of each pixel in the matrix; establishing a first signal value if all the pixels in the matrix have brightness values within the said range; and establishing a second signal value if at least one of said pixels in said matrix has a brightness value outside said range, so as to provide an array of signal values each representative of a matrix defined for a respective given pixel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 5, further comprising providing a plurality of said arrays of signal values wherein the range of brightness values is the same for each matrix represented within the same array and each array is provided in accordance with a respective one of a plurality of different ranges of brightness values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the ranges of brightness values extend in combination over a complete range of brightness values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the brightness values are expressed in terms of grey scale values.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to any of claims 6 to 8 wherein the ranges of brightness values overlap.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to any of claims 5 to 9, further comprising scanning a document to provide said pixels.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any of claims 5 to 10 wherein the method is reiterated to develop at least a second array of signal values from the said array.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of comparing a selected pixel of an image with a corresponding region of a master image pixel, comprising testing the brightness value of the selected pixel with a predetermined range of brightness values common to a respective matrix of pixels defined in the neighbourhood of the said master image pixel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of comparing a selected pixel of an image with a corresponding region of a master image pixel, comprising testing the brightness value of the selected pixel with a predetermined range of brightness values common to a respective matrix of pixels defined in the neighbourhood of the said master image pixel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 12, comprising performing said testing for each of a multiplicity of selected pixels, and providing signal indications when the brightness value of any selected pixel does not correspond with the range with which it is compared.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 13, further comprising testing the brightness value of a selected value with each of a plurality of ranges of brightness values common to the respective matrix of pixels in the master image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to any of claims 12 to 14, further comprising scanning a sheet to provide the selected pixels.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
34 words
A method according to claims 14 and 15 wherein the scanning is performed in real time for a multiplicity of sheets supplied in succession either separately or as successive parts of a continuous web.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of examining an object, comprising establishing a representation of a master image in the form of an array of signal elements, wherein each signal element in the array is associated with a respective pixel or group of pixels in the master image and has a selected signal value if all the pixels in a defined matrix of pixels in the neighbourhood of the said respective pixel or group of pixels in the master image has a brightness value within a respective range of brightness values, scanning the object in two dimensions to provide a multiplicity of object pixels nominally corresponding to respective master image pixels, testing the brightness value of each of a plurality of selected object pixels for correspondence with a respective range of brightness values when a respective signal element in the said array has said selected signal value.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of examining an object, comprising establishing a representation of a master image in the form of an array of signal elements, wherein each signal element in the array is associated with a respective pixel or group of pixels in the master image and has a selected signal value if all the pixels in a defined matrix of pixels in the neighbourhood of the said respective pixel or group of pixels in the master image has a brightness value within a respective range of brightness values, scanning the object in two dimensions to provide a multiplicity of object pixels nominally corresponding to respective master image pixels, testing the brightness value of each of a plurality of selected object pixels for correspondence with a respective range of brightness values when a respective signal element in the said array has said selected signal value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of testing according to claim 17 wherein the testing of an object pixel is inhibited when the signal value of the array element for the matrix associated with a nominally corresponding master image pixel or group of such pixels is other than said selected signal value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the said selected signal value comprises one of two possible binary values.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
60 words
A method according to any of claims 17 to 19, further comprising establishing a multiplicity of arrays of signal elements, said arrays being established in respect of different respective ranges of brightness values, and testing, under control of signal elements from the arrays, a brightness value of each selected object pixel for correspondence with each of the said respective ranges.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein said ranges extend in combination over a complete range from a defined zero brightness to a defined maximum brightness.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 20 or claim 21 wherein said ranges overlap.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the testing of the brightness value of each selected object pixel is performed simultaneously for each of the said respective ranges.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
31 words
A method according to any of claims 17 to 23, wherein said method is performed successively for each of a multiplicity of objects and synchronously with the production of the objects.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to any of claims 17 to 24 wherein the object is in sheet form.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
40 words
A method according to any of claims 17 to 24 wherein said method is performed successively for each of a multiplicity of objects in the form of sheets which are either separate or in the form of a continuous web.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for the performance of a method according to claim 18 and employing a signal model produced in accordance with claim 6, and comprising means for providing in accordance with the image of the object a multiplicity of pixels each represented by a brightness value; a plurality of comparator systems each arranged to define a respective one of a plurality of ranges of brightness values; means for presenting for each pixel, a respective digital data word of which each bit position corresponds to a respective one of said ranges in accordance with said signal model; means responsive to the digital data word and coupled to the comparator systems for allowing effective comparison of the brightness value of each pixel with each brightness range for which the respective bit in the data word has a first binary value; and means for detecting when the brightness value of a pixel is outside a range with which it is compared.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for testing in rapid succession each of a multiplicity of sheets in separate or continuous form for tolerable correspondence with a master sheet, comprising means for presenting said sheets in rapid succession; means for scanning each sheet synchronously with a presentation thereof to provide for each sheet a multiplicity of pixels each represented by a brightness value; a plurality of comparator systems each arranged to define a respective one of a plurality of ranges of brightness values; means for presenting, for each pixel, a respective digital data word of which each bit position corresponds to a respective one of said ranges in accordance with a signal model as defined in claim 6; means responsive to the digital data word and coupled to the comparator systems for allowing effective comparison of the brightness value of each pixel with each brightness range for which the respective bit in the data word has a first binary value; and means for detecting when the brightness value of a pixel is outside a range with which it is compared.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.