Unisys Corporation

David C Williams

Robert D Klein

Robert D'Aoust

George E Reasoner, Jr

Debora Y Grosse

Joseph R Hedrick

Joseph M Capo

Ravi K Nigam

Michael J Higgins-Luthman

Kevin F Jennings

Gerald R Smith

Stephen R Krebs

Karen A Wilds

Robert B Cording

Deborah Y Grosse

Antonette M Roppo

A pipelined image processor generates an image of the information contained on first and second portions of a document. The pipelined image processor includes a first pipe for processing information contained on the first portion of the document, and second pipe for processing information contained on the second portion of the document. The pipes receive the output from two camera assemblies which are used for generating an electrical signal in response to information contained on the document, an image digitizer for generating digitized information from the electrical signal by the means for generating an electrical signal. In addition, both pipes also include a resequencer for generating resequenced information from the digitized information, as well as an image processor for generating processed information from the resequenced information. Finally, the first and second pipes include a transposer/compressor assembly for generating transposed and compressed information from the processed information, and a compressed data buffer for storing the transposed and compressed information.

Parallel pipelined image processor

A digital image preprocessing method for eliminating background patterns and scenes from digitized gray level document image data. The method accepts multi-gray level image data as input and produces a gray level output image containing a 'white' background. Document image backgrounds are eliminated (or suppressed) by computing a separate (and typically different) threshold value for each gray level pixel of the original document image. Input image pixels whose gray level is greater (brighter) than the threshold value are assumed to be background picture data and are modified to be 'white' pixels in the output image. The pixel threshold value is determined dynamically pixel-to-pixel based on gray level pixel data observed within the input image. Additionally, the pixel threshold can be automatically controlled to insure retention of written and/or printed information present in the input image. Threshold control is accomplished by specifying a print contrast signal (PCS) parameter to the image preprocessing method. Documents which might use this preprocessing technique include, but are not limited to, bank checks, remittance documents, charge card slips, deposit slips and similar type financial documents.

Method for background suppression in an image data processing system

An image data processor including various subprocessors arranged in a pipeline for carrying out functions such as pixel normalization, background suppression, spot and void removal, image scaling, and size detection.

Image data processor

Apparatus for processing digitized images which contain useful image formation data and background features a background supression scheme used to convert each pixel value to preselected values in a smaller range in order to facilitate data processing such as compression and scaling. Provision is made for generating an adaptive or dynamic threshold value, as well as a much more stable background reference threshold value.

Method and apparatus for effecting background suppression of image data

Apparatus for filtering digital image data which is initially presented in the form of an array of multi-bit pixels having plural scale values. Threshold means are provided for converting the scale value pixels to an array of binary pixels in which each pixel is associated with either background or image formation data. Patterns of neighboring pixels are examined and used to transform a center pixel in the window as a function of the detected pattern in a manner to remove isolated spots or voids from the image data.

Method and apparatus for effecting spot/void filtering of image data

Apparatus for detecting a dimension of a generally rectangular document in a system where the document is carried over a track to a station where the document is scanned by a sensor to create a digital image thereof. Pixel vales along a scan line which includes a portion of the track as well as the document are analyzed and provide an indication of the size of the document.

Method and apparatus for detecting document size in an imaging system

A pipelined image processor is disclosed which contains a diagnostic apparatus which, under normal processing conditions, is coupled to and is in communication with resequencer, image processor, and transposer/compressor assemblies contained within the pipelined image processor. The diagnostic apparatus of this invention causes a diagnostic test pattern to be sent to the re-sequencer and image processor entities of the pipelined image processor and monitors the response thereof. This response is then used to detect faults which have occurred in these entities.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

David C Williams