Mask

Claim 2

A mask for transmitting a predetermined optical image composed of at least one projection component for display on a display screen, said projection component having a shape and location subject to statistical variations, said mask comprising: (a) a first area of maximum transmittance τ j corresponding in shape to said shape of said projection component; and (b) a second area of transmittance τ j-1 less than said maximum transmittance τ j , said transmittances of said first and second areas selected as a function of the probability of said projection component being projected onto said areas.

Claim 3

A mask as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third area of transmittance τ j+1 less than said maximum transmittance τ j .

Claim 4

A mask as recited in claim 2, wherein said transmittances are distributed stepwisely.

Claim 5

A mask as recited in claim 2, wherein said transmittances are distributed continuously.

Claim 6

A mask as recited in claim 3 or 4, wherein said first area has a size corresponding to the size of said projection component.

Claim 7

A mask as recited in claim 3 or 4, wherein said transmittances τ j-1 , τ j , τ j+1 are proportional to the probabilities of said projection component being projected onto said second, first and third areas, respectively.

Claim 8

A mask as recited in claim 6, wherein said maximum transmittance τ j is approximately 1.0.

Claim 9

A mask as recited in claim 2, further comprising m-3 additional areas, each area having a transmittance less than said maximum transmittance, wherein m represents a number of discrete probability values corresponding to the respective probabilities of said projection component being projected onto said additional areas.

Claim 10

An optical image recognition apparatus for recognizing an optical image composed of at least one projection component having an intensity, an expected shape and location subject to statistical variations, said apparatus comprising: (a) a mask for transmitting said projection component, comprising: (i) a first area of maximum transmittance τ j corresponding in shape to said expected shape of said projection component; and (ii) a second area of transmittance τ j-1 less than said maximum transmittance τ j , said transmittances of said first and second areas selected as a function of the probability of said projection component being projected onto said areas; (b) display means for displaying said optical image, comprising a number m of display areas, m corresponding to a number of discrete probability values, each probability value representing the statistical probability of said projection component having a particular intensity after transmission through said mask; and (c) detecting means coupled to said display means, for detecting the intensity of said projection component after transmission through said mask and displaying said projection component on an area of sad display means corresponding to the detected intensity value.

Claim 11

An optical image recognition apparatus for recognizing an optical image composed of at least one projection component having an intensity, an expected shape and location subject to statistical variations, said apparatus comprising: (a) a mask for transmitting said projection component, comprising: (i) a first area of maximum transmittance τ j corresponding in shape to said expected shape of said projection component; and (ii) a second area of transmittance τ j-1 less than said maximum transmittance τ j , said transmittances of said first and second areas selected as a function of the probability of said projection component being projected onto said areas; (b) display means for displaying said optical image, comprising a number m of display areas, m corresponding to a number of discrete probability values, each probability value representing the statistical probability of said projection component having a particular intensity after transmission through said mask; and (c) detecting means coupled to said display means, for detecting the intensity of said projection component after transmission through said mask and displaying said projection component on an area of sad display means corresponding to the detected intensity value.

Claim 12

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a third area of transmittance τ j+1 less than said maximum transmittance τ j .

Claim 13

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said transmittances are distributed stepwisely.

Claim 14

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said transmittances are distributed continuously.

Claim 15

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 11 or 18, wherein said first area has a size corresponding to the size of said projection component.

Claim 16

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 11 or 12, wherein said transmittances τ j-1 , τ j ,τ j+1 are proportional to the probabilities of said projection component being projected onto said second, first and third areas, respectively.

Claim 17

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said maximum transmittance τ j is approximately 1.0.

Claim 18

An optical image recognition apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising m-3 additional areas, each are having a transmittance less than said maximum transmittance, wherein m represents a number of discrete probability values corresponding to the respective probabilities of said projection component being projected onto said additional areas.