EP0664642A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing device and method for identifying an input image, and copier scanner and printer including same
Assignee: Omron Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-01-20
Abstract
Abstract The first object of this invention is to provide an image processing device which can reliably detect documents which may not be copied, which has a very small probability of false positives, and which can handle newly issued documents which may not be copied. The second object of this invention is to provide an image processing scheme which would accurately obtain the location of a pattern indicating a document to be detected; which would extract that pattern: which would determine correctly whether it is the right pattern; and which make it difficult for anyone to tamper with the pattern. To achieve such objects, a specified pattern is imprinted before use on a document which may not be copied in the first embodiment, and a previously specified number of positioning marks and dummy marks which identify the location of the pattern are provided in the second embodiment. It will be able to detect a wide variety of documents and perform the required processing at high speed. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsutaka Katoh
- 👤 Kouichi Ohmae
- 👤 Shinya Sonoda
- 👤 Masahito Yanagida
- 👤 Masanori Senga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00846; G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/20; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern, comprising: a pattern detection device to detect a potential pattern within an image data, said potential pattern is a potential match for said specified reference pattern which is predetermined; a pattern extracting device to extract said detected potential pattern from said image data; and a pattern matching device to match said extracted potential pattern with said specified reference pattern; wherein said specified reference pattern comprises a number of cells having a characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image processing device according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic comprises a color density made to differ from background of said specified reference pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image processing device according claim 2, wherein said color density is a dots pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An image processing device according claim 2, wherein said color density represents coded information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image processing device according claim 1, wherein said pattern matching device performs a fuzzy inference using fuzzy knowledge assembled beforehand based on said specified reference pattern, and calculates a goodness of fit of said potential pattern with respect to said specified reference pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image processing device according claim 1, wherein said pattern detection device detects said potential pattern by a rough search which matches a gradated image obtained by reducing a resolution of said image data against a gradated image of said specified reference pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image processing device according to claim 2, wherein a number of different specified reference patterns may be incorporated which have a common background having same coded information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image processing device according to claim 1, wherein specified reference pattern is made up of a number of cells arranged in a grid of dimension n x m.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing device according to claim 1, wherein specified reference pattern is made up of a number of cells arranged in concentric circles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image processing device according to claim 2, wherein a virtual mark whose diameter is less than a width of said cell is established in a specified location within said cell, and color density of said mark is varied.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image processing device according claim 2, wherein a sampling region used to obtain said color density of said cell is a region in a specified location in said cell which is within a circle whose diameter is less than a width of said cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image processing device according claim 2, wherein said color density of one of said cells has a number of grades, so that said color density of said single cell can be expressed as multivalued data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
A copy machine to copy a transcript, comprising: a scanning device to scan said transcript and generate an image data of said transcript; a conversion device which is connected to said scanning device and which converts said image data into color signals for printing; a printing device, which receives said color signals from said conversion device and performs specified processing needed for printing; an image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern in said transcript, said image processing device is connected in parallel with said conversion device, comprising: a pattern detection device to detect a potential pattern within an image data, said potential pattern is a potential match for said specified reference pattern which is predetermined; a pattern extracting device to extract said detected potential pattern from said image data; and a pattern matching device to match said extracted potential pattern with said specified reference pattern; wherein said specified reference pattern comprising a number of cells having a characteristic; a control device to control said printing device when it has determined that said specified reference pattern is present in said transcript in order to prohibit said specified processing needed for printing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern, comprising steps of: detecting a plurality of location marks which are arranged in a first spatial relationship between each other in an image data; extracting a data region where said specified reference pattern may exist, said data region is arranged in a second spatial relationship from said plurality of location marks; judging whether said region contains said specified reference pattern which identifies said image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern, comprising steps of: detecting a plurality of identical specified reference marks which may be incorporated into said specified reference pattern in a image data; counting a total number of said specified reference marks which are arranged on a outline of a shape; and judging whether said specified reference pattern exists in said image data based on said total number of said reference marks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern according to claim 14, wherein said image data consists of said plurality of location marks as well as dummy marks which are identical or similar to said location marks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern according to claim 15, wherein said image data consists of a said plurality of specified reference marks as well as dummy marks which are identical or similar to said specified reference marks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern according to claim 14, wherein said specified reference pattern consists of marks that are identical or similar to said location marks, but which are arranged spatially in a relationship different from that of said location marks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern according to claim 15, wherein said specified reference pattern consists of marks that are identical or similar to said specified reference marks, but which are arranged spatially in a relationship different from that of said specified reference marks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern according to claim 15, wherein said specified reference pattern consisting of a plurality of identical specified reference marks has an identical mark in the center of said shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing method to identify a specified reference pattern according to claim 15, wherein said judging is done based on said total number of said reference marks and a relative location of each said reference marks on said outline of shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern, comprising: a location mark detector to detect a location mark in a image data; a data region extracting device to extract a region of said specified reference pattern based on said location mark; and a pattern matching device to judge whether an extracted pattern in said extracted region has said specified reference pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according to claim 22, wherein said location mark detector detects at least three location marks which are arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according to claim 23, wherein a shape formed by virtual lines linking at least three adjacent location marks arranged in a specified relationship is an isosceles triangle or some other asymmetrical shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according to claim 22, wherein said location mark detector comprises: a binary converter to binary said image data having a plurality of mask partitioned into n x m; a location mark extracting device to compare said mask having a binary dark-light cells with said location mark, and extract said location mark; and a coordinate detector to detect a coordinate data of said location mark.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according claim 22, wherein said pattern matching device performs a fuzzy inference using fuzzy knowledge assembled beforehand based on said specified reference pattern, and calculates a goodness of fit of said extracted pattern with respect to said specified reference pattern.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according to claim 22, wherein said pattern matching device decodes a color density of each cell forming said data region, and judges whether said decoded color density is identical to said specified reference pattern.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern, comprising: a specified reference mark detector to detect identical specified reference marks which may be incorporated into said specified reference pattern in a image data; a counting device to count a total number of said specified reference marks which are arranged on a outline of a shape; and a judging device to judge whether said specified reference pattern exists in said image data based on said total number of said reference marks.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according to claim 28, wherein said specified reference marks are arranged on a outline of a plurality of shapes which are similar and different size, said specified reference marks on each shapes have different coefficients which decreases with increasing said size, said judging considers both said total number of said specified reference marks and said coefficients of said shape.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern according claim 28, wherein said judging device performs a fuzzy inference as a first step using fuzzy knowledge assembled beforehand based on said specified reference pattern, and calculates a goodness of fit of said extracted pattern with respect to said specified reference pattern, then said judging device performs said judging as a second step only when said goodness of fit exceeds a specified value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
157 words
A copy machine to copy a transcript, comprising: a scanning device to scan said transcript and generate an image data of said transcript; a conversion device which is connected to said scanning device and which converts said image data into color signals for printing; a printing device, which receives said color signals from said conversion device and performs specified processing needed for printing; an image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern, comprising: a location mark detector to detect a location mark in a image data; a data region extracting device to extract a region of said specified reference pattern based on said location mark; a pattern matching device to judge whether a extracted pattern in said extracted region has said specified reference pattern a control device to control said printing device when it has determined that said specified reference pattern is present in said transcript in order to prohibit said specified processing needed for printing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
117 words
A scanning machine to scan a transcript, comprising: a scanning device to scan said transcript and generate an image data of said transcript; an image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern, comprising: a location mark detector to detect a location mark in a image data; a data region extracting device to extract a region of said specified reference pattern based on said location mark; a pattern matching device to judge whether a extracted pattern in said extracted region has said specified reference pattern a control device to control said scanning machine when it has determined that said specified reference pattern is present in said transcript in order to prohibit said specified processing needed for scanning.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
118 words
A printing machine to print a transcript, comprising: a printing device, which receives color signals from outside and performs specified processing needed for printing; an image processing device to detect a specified reference pattern, comprising: a location mark detector to detect a location mark in a image data; a data region extracting device to extract a region of said specified reference pattern based on said location mark; a pattern matching device to judge whether a extracted pattern in said extracted region has said specified reference pattern a control device to control said printing device when it has determined that said specified reference pattern is present in said transcript in order to prohibit said specified processing needed for printing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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