EP0649114A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Image processing device and method for identifying an input image and copier including same
Assignee: Omron Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-10-14
Abstract
Abstract An image processing device and method for identifying an input image and a copier including such an image processing device and method. The image processing device (1, 2, 3) forms a gradated image from the input image, determines whether the gradated image includes a specified pattern, extracts a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern, and compares the extracted portion of the input image with a reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Tooru Fujii
- 👤 Genki Yotsui
- 👤 Tomohiko Hayakawa
- 👤 Shinya Sonoda
- 👤 Yoshinori Yamaguchi
- 👤 Kouichi Oomae
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; G06V10/40; G06V10/44; G06V10/443; G06V10/70; G06V10/74; G06V10/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An image processing device for identifying an input image, the image processing device comprising: forming means for forming a gradated image from the input image; determining means for determining whether the gradated image includes a specified pattern; extracting means for, when the determining means determines that the gradated image includes the specified pattern, extracting a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern; and comparing means for comparing the extracted portion of the input image with a reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the determining means includes searching means for searching the gradated image for the specified pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
140 words
The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein: the searching means specifies an approximate reference position and orientation of the specified pattern; the extracting means extracts a first portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern in accordance with the approximate reference position and orientation, specifies a precise reference position and orientation of the specified pattern from the extracted portion of the input image, and extracts a second portion of the input image in accordance with the precise reference position and orientation, the second extracted portion of the input image being included within the first extracted portion of the input image; and the comparing means compares the second extracted portion of the input image with the reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the second extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image processing device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the comparing means compares the extracted portion of the input image with the reference pattern using a fuzzy pattern matching logic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The image processing device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the comparing means generates a control signal in accordance with the degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image processing device according to claim 5, wherein the comparing means includes a fuzzy inference unit and a memory having fuzzy knowledge stored therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
The image processing device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the determining means determines whether the gradated image includes a plurality of specified patterns; the extracting means, when the determining means determines that the gradated image includes the plurality of specified patterns, extracts portions of the input image corresponding to the plurality of specified patterns; and the comparing means compares the extracted portions of the input image with a plurality of reference patterns to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portions of the input image and the plurality of reference patterns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
The image processing device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the input image comprises a plurality of color components and wherein: the forming means forms a gradated image for each of the color components; the determining means determines whether each of the gradated images includes a specified pattern; the extracting means, when the determining means determines that the gradated images include the specified patterns, extracts a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified patterns for each of the color components; and the comparing means compares the extracted portions of the input image with reference patterns to determine degrees of resemblance between the extracted portions of the input image and the reference patterns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the forming means, the determining means, the extracting means, and the comparing means each operates using a surface sequence scheme for each of the color components.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The image processing device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the comparing means compares the extracted portion of the input image with a plurality of reference patterns to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the plurality of reference patterns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image processing device according to claim 10, further comprising means for determining a spatial relationship between the plurality of reference patterns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
A copier comprising: scanning means for scanning an original image to produce an input image; a signal processing unit including a color processing means for producing color component data from the input image and an image processing device, the image processing device including: forming means for forming a gradated image from the input image, determining means for determining whether the gradated image includes a specified pattern, extracting means for, when the determining means determines that the gradated image includes the specified pattern, extracting a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern, and comparing means for comparing the extracted portion of the input image with a reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern; and printing means for printing a copy of the input image from the color component data produced by the color processing circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The copier according to claim 12, wherein the comparing means generates a control signal in accordance with the degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern, the control signal preventing the printing means from printing the copy of the input image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The copier according to claim 12, wherein the comparing means generates a control signal in accordance with the degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern, the control signal causing the color processing means to execute a copy prevention routine.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for identifying an input image, the method comprising the steps of: forming a gradated image from the input image; determining whether the gradated image includes a specified pattern; extracting a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern when the gradated image includes the specified pattern; and comparing the extracted portion of the input image with a reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the determining step includes the step of searching the gradated image for the specified pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein: the searching step includes the step of specifying an approximate reference position and orientation of the specified pattern; the extracting step includes the steps of extracting a first portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern in accordance with the approximate reference position and orientation, specifying a precise reference position and orientation of the specified pattern from the extracted portion of the input image, and extracting a second portion of the input image in accordance with the precise reference position and orientation, the second extracted portion of the input image being included within the first extracted portion of the input image; and the comparing step includes the step of comparing the second extracted portion of the input image with the reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the second extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
36 words
The method according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the comparing step includes the step of comparing the extracted portion of the input image with the reference pattern using a fuzzy pattern matching logic.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
41 words
The method according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the comparing step includes the step of generating a control signal in accordance with the degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
101 words
The method according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein: the determining step includes the step of determining whether the gradated image includes a plurality of specified patterns; the extracting step includes the step of extracting portions of the input image corresponding to the plurality of specified patterns when the gradated image includes the plurality of specified patterns; and the comparing step includes the step of comparing the extracted portions of the input image with a plurality of reference patterns to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portions of the input image and the plurality of reference patterns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
The image method according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the input image comprises a plurality of color components and wherein: the forming step includes the step of forming a gradated image for each of the color components; the determining step includes the step of determining whether each of the gradated images includes a specified pattern; the extracting step includes the step of extracting a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified patterns for each of the color components when the gradated images include the specified patterns; and the comparing step includes the step of comparing the extracted portions of the input image with reference patterns to determine degrees of resemblance between the extracted portions of the input image and the reference patterns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 21, wherein the forming step, the determining step, the extracting step, and the comparing step each includes the step of using a surface sequence scheme for each of the color components.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
52 words
The method according to any of claims 15 to 22, wherein the comparing step includes the step of comparing the extracted portion of the input image with a plurality of reference patterns to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the plurality of reference patterns.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of determining a spatial relationship between the plurality of reference patterns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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