General Electric Company

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Richard I Hartley

Peter F Corbett

Kenneth B Welles, Ii

Sharbel E Noujaim

Fathy F Yassa

Michael James Hartman

Aiman A Abdel-Malek

Harvey E Cline

Rajiv Gupta

Paul A Delano

Rupert William Curwen

A Nadeem Ishaque

Peter Henry Tu

Siegwalt Ludke

John J Bloomer

William Edwin Jackson

Chung-Yih Ho

Andrea Marie Schmitz

Julia Alison Noble

Kenneth Brakeley Welles Ii

Albert E Casavant

Abhijit Chatterjee

Bena L Currin

Chi-Yuan Chin

James C Grande

Julia A Noble

Jane S Liu

A base pair of minutia is selected in the latent fingerprint under consideration and each tenprint or reference fingerprint. For each selected base pair, those sets of minutia pairs are selected which satisfy apriori constraints including angle, distance and ridge counts, to generate a first set of minutia which support the fingerprint correspondence. A second set of the supporting minutia pairs is generated from the first set, which doesn't contain pairs which are inconsistent with the base pair/bias angle. A third set is established using 'dynamic programming' to determine the largest topologically self-consistent subset of the second set. The minutia pairings are counted in the third set, to thereby establish a merit of the base pair. For each of the minutia of the latent fingerprint, a correspondence group is generated, of a predetermined number of minutia of the tenprint which have the greatest merit. The group is searched for a maximal clique in which every latent-tenprint minutia pair is consistent with every other minutia pair in the clique. A cardinality, equal to the number of latent-tenprint minutia pairs in the maximal clique, is stored. The steps are repeated, to generate a set of cardinalities.

Fingerprint matching by estimation of a maximum clique

A cardiac segmentation system acquires a series of images acquires as slices through a volume, and as images at different time periods throughout a cardiac cycle. It displays an image to an operator which interactively selects a region of interest (ROI) of the image to be segmented, such as the left ventricle. A seed point is also selected within the ROI and the structure desired to be segmented. The image is then thresholded by a masking device classifying points within the ROI as above the threshold, or not above the threshold. A 3D connectivity device identifies points within the ROI having the same classification as an expanded seed point which are also contiguous with the seed point as the segmented structure. The segmented structure is expanded and a histogram is constructed. A new threshold is selected which separates modes of the histogram, and used to carry out a revised, final, segmentation of the current image. The centroid of the current image is used as a seed point in segmenting adjacent images. Similarly, the current threshold is used as an initial threshold for adjacent images. The previous seed point and ROI may also be used. This is repeated for a number of images to result in segmented structures may then be stored, displayed and used in calculating heart functionality.

Fast segmentation of cardiac images

The present invention determines the epicardial boundary, being a closed curve dividing the myocardium from the tissue and blood surrounding the left ventricle. A mean and standard deviation is determined for pixels of a medical image of the subject's myocardial tissue. These are used to define a 'goodness function' over the image which is positive for pixels statistically likely to be myocardial tissue, and negative for other pixels. An initial curve for modeling the epicardium in radial coordinates starts with a curve of inner myocardial boundary obtained my conventional imaging techniques. This curve is then iteratively updated to maximize the total 'goodness function' of the region encompassed.

System for measuring myocardium in cardiac images

A method of reconstructing selected features of a part manufactured according to a CAD model involves acquiring a set of linear push broom (LPB) projection images of the part acquired at different angles about an axis of rotation passing through the part. Acquiring a set of matrices M.sub.j j=1 . . . N, each of which maps 3D coordinates of the part to screen coordinates of one of the projection images. Reconstruction of 3D structures from the projection images requires identification of screen coordinates of each image which correspond to a point of the structure of the part to be reconstructed. Back projecting these screen coordinates modified by the distortion inherent in the LPB imaging device. This is accomplished by selecting a screen coordinate on a feature desired to be reconstructed. Computing a ray passing through the selected screen coordinate through an imaging center. Using each M matrix to map this ray to a hyperbola on the other images. The hyperbola is then scanned until the desired feature is encountered. This second screen location of this projection image corresponds to the first selected screen location. A second ray through the second screen coordinate is constructed. Where it intersects the first ray identifies the 3D reconstruction point. This is repeated for a number of points to create a reconstruction of the selected feature.

Epipolar reconstruction of 3D structures

A method of calibrating a linear pushbroom imaging device used in non-destructive testing of a part manufactured according to a CAD model involves identifying the location of fixed reference points, such as tooling balls in the CAD model. Positioning the part on a fixture having tooling balls fixed relative to each other in the same manner as those in the CAD model. Adjusting the part on the fixture such that points on the surface of the part known to be accurate have the same locations relative to the tooling bails as the CAD part is to the CAD tooling balls. Obtaining several projection images of the part and tooling balls at different angles about an axis of rotation passing through the part. Using the known 3D locations of the center of the CAD tooling balls and the corresponding measured screen locations of the is actual tooling balls, transformation matrices, G, M.sub.j may iteratively be determined which map points on the 3D CAD model to 3D points of the part and then map the 3D points of the part to the 2D screen coordinates of each projection image, respectively. This provides a method of determining theoretical correct point locations in a coordinate system fixed with respect to the part, and theoretically correct screen coordinates in a reference frame fixed with respect to the imaging device.

Method of calibration of imaging devices

An apparatus and method of classifying and sorting by shape crystalline objects such as synthetic diamonds in which an image of the object taken from an angle defined in relation to the object is compared to one or more templates in order to characterize the object.

Classifying and sorting crystalline objects

An interactive system for producing X-ray fluoroscopic images determines X-ray tube photon count and voltage for producing acceptable quality images while minimizing X-ray radiation dosage to a subject. An image is created and a signal to noise (S/N) ratio is estimated from the image by a unitary transform method. The S/N ratio is determined by solving several simultaneous equations and the photon count is estimated to produce an image with a desired S/N ratio. Subsequent X-ray fluoroscopy images are produced with the optimum photon count Q, thereby reducing X-ray dosage. The optimization is repeated periodically to readjust the system.

Method of achieving reduced dose X-ray fluoroscopy by employing

An interactive system for producing X-ray fluoroscopic images determines X-ray tube photon count and voltage for producing acceptable quality images while minimizing X-ray radiation dosage to a subject. An image is created and a signal to noise (S/N) ratio is estimated from the image, assuming a Poisson model is assumed for the X-ray image. The S/N ratio is determined by solving several simultaneous equations and the photon count is estimated to produce an image with a desired S/N ratio. Subsequent X-ray fluoroscopy images are produced with the optimum photon count Q, thereby reducing X-ray dosage. The optimization is repeated periodically to readjust the system.

An automated system for determining artifacts in images indicating defects in an imaging device being tested employs a constant radiation source which supplies radiation of spatially uniform intensity to the imaging device to be tested. The imaging device then creates a flood image A.sup.(0). A region of interest (ROI) mask means for all pixel values of flood image A.sup.(0) sets values to zero outside of the imaging devices field of view to produce a flood image A.sup.(1). An image normalization means normalizes flood image A.sup.(1) to have an average value of zero producing a normalized flood image A. A correlation means performs an autocorrelation of normalized flood image A to produce a correlation field which is then masked to select portions of the correlation field. The correlation values of the selected regions are summed, the squares of the correlation values are summed and the resulting sums are normalized for mask shape and flood image intensity to determine and quantify the presence of specific artifacts. These normalized summed values may be compared to predetermined thresholds to determine if the artifacts have a magnitude above an acceptable level. Based upon the results of the comparison, a corrective action may be taken such as removing the imaging device from a manufacturing line or adjusting the imaging device and retesting it.

Correlation methods of identifying defects in imaging devices

An automated system for determining artifacts in images indicating defects in an imaging device being tested employs a constant radiation source which supplies radiation of spatially uniform intensity to the imaging device to be tested. The imaging device then creates a flood image A.sup.(0). A region of interest (ROI) mask unit for all pixel values of flood image A.sup.(0) sets values to zero outside of the imaging devices field of view to produce a flood image A.sup.(1). An image normalization unit normalizes flood image A.sup.(1) to have an average value of zero producing a normalized flood image A. A unitary transform unit performs a unitary transformation of normalized flood image A to produce an transform field which is then masked to select portions of the transform field. The squared magnitudes of the transform values of the selected regions are summed and the resulting sum is normalized for mask shape and flood image intensity to determine and quantify the presence of specific artifacts. The normalized summed value may be compared to a predetermined threshold to determine if the artifacts have a magnitude above an acceptable level. Based upon the results of the comparison, a corrective action may be taken such as removing the imaging device from a manufacturing line or adjusting the imaging device and retesting it.

Unitary transform methods of identifying defects in imaging devices

A method of transforming systolic arrays using bit-parallel arithmetic into arrays using digit-serial arithmetic is described. Digit-serial computation is an area-time efficient method of doing high-speed arithmetic calculations, having the advantage through appropriate choice of digit and word size of allowing throughput capacity to be matched to design needs. For a certain class of systolic arrays, however, digit-serial arithmetic allows a further very significant benefit, by transforming arrays in which processors are under-utilized into arrays with 100% processor utilization. As an example, converting a well-known band-matrix multiplication array to use digit-serial processing is calculated to give an improvement of more than three times in area-time efficiency.

Systolic array processors for reducing under-utilization of original

An interactive system for producing acceptable quality fluoroscopy images determines X-ray tube photon count and voltage while minimizing X-ray radiation dosage to a subject. Parameters of the subject and the type of image to be produced are provided to the system. X-ray tube voltage and current are initialized at a fraction of conventional values for a portion of a subject to be imaged. An image is then created and transformed. A power ratio of low frequency components to high frequency components is calculated indicating quality of the image. Images are produced and adjusted until the maximum exposure is reached, or the power ratio does not increase beyond a quality increment. The process is repeated to optimize X-ray tube voltage. The X-ray fluoroscopy procedure is performed with the optimum X-ray tube photon count and the optimum voltage thereby reducing X-ray dosage. The optimization is repeated periodically to readjust the system.

X-ray fluoroscopy system for reducing dosage employing iterative power

An array multiplier using modified Booth encoding of multiplier input signals is formed on the surface of a monolithic integrated circuit using masks generated by a computer, in accordance with a silicon compiler program, by arranging an array of standard cells selected from a library of standard cell designs in a tessellation procedure. The array multiplier is laid out in accordance with one of particular tessellation patterns, which employ simpler and more regular patterns of interconnections between cells. Carry-save addition is used in combining partial product terms to avoid concatenating long ripple carry times.

Array multiplier adapted for tiled layout by silicon compiler

A method for generating a composite terrain map, proceeding from an overview taken at relatively high altitude and photographs taken at relatively low altitudes, generates a composite terrain map that is relatively free of step irradiance variations where the photographs taken at relatively low altitudes are splined. Digitized representations of orthographic projections of the overview and each of the lower-altitude photographs, as regularly sampled in two orthogonal dimensions and referred to a common spatial frame of reference, are generated. The digitized representations of the orthographic projections of each of said photographs taken at relatively low altitudes are hig-pass spatially filtered, to generate digitized high-spatial-frequency responses. The digitized high-spatial-frequency responses are splined to generate a digitized high-spatial-frequency response for the composite terrain map. This digitized high-spatial-frequency response is merged with a digitized low-spatial-frequency response for the composite terrain map obtained by low-pass spatially filtering the digitized representations of the orthographic projection of the overview.

Forming, with the aid of an overview image, a composite image from a

The invention is embodied in improvements in calculating discrete Fourier transform (DFT) using recursive digital filtering in a method for determining the velocity of a target located in a medium for vibratory energy. In the method a transmitter electrical signal of prescribed frequency is generated. Coherent vibratory energy, the frequency of which is in fixed relationship with said prescribed frequency, is transmitted into the medium and is directed toward the target. The transmitting is done in recurring pulses of prescribed duration. During range gate intervals each of prescribed duration, the transmitted coherent vibratory energy is received from the medium after its interaction with the target. The vibratory energy which is received during the range gate intervals is converted to a receiver electrical signal. The transmitter and receiver electrical signals are mixed together to obtain a demodulated electrical signal through heterodyning or homodyning. The demodulated electrical signal is digitized and then digitally filtered on a recursive basis to separate it into digitized spectral components in accordance with a discrete Fourier transform procedure. Squaring the absolute value of each of the digitized spectral components generates digital electric signals descriptive of the power spectrum of the interaction of the vibratory energy with said target. After performing a comparative analysis of the digital electric signals descriptive of that power spectrum, the velocity of the target is calculated from the results of the comparative analysis.

Growing community of inventors

Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Richard I Hartley