Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090002724 | BANDING PROFILE ESTIMATOR USING MULTIPLE SAMPLING INTERVALS - A method of integrating multiple sampling interval image data with timing information from a defect once-around sensor and the machine page sync signals to estimate a banding profile. By augmenting the sampling interval data with the timing data, proper phasing of each frequency over each sampling interval can be maintained. Specifically, when the data over the multiple intervals is taken, the defect source once-around signal and the page sync signals are also recorded. The combination of this information allows the algorithm to extract phase and amplitude information of banding defects from the sampling intervals using a new matched-filter based parameter estimation algorithm. Estimated banding profiles are then generated from the known frequencies, and the estimated amplitude and phase values. | 01-01-2009 |
20090033918 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROBUST DETECTION OF THE DENSITY OF A PIGMENTED LAYER - Aspects of the disclosure can provide a method of detecting a density of a pigmented layer on an object. The method can include emitting a first modulated light onto a first portion of the object having the pigmented layer, detecting a first reflected light of the first modulated light from the first portion of the object, and determining the density of the pigmented layer according to the first reflected light. Furthermore, the method can include emitting a second modulated light onto a second portion of the object, detecting a second reflected light of the second modulated light from the second portion of the object, and determining the density of the pigmented layer according to a relative ratio that is related to the first reflected light and the second reflected light. | 02-05-2009 |
20090046325 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO COMPENSATE FOR BANDING DEFECTS - A method of correcting periodic banding defects in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: determining a banding profile estimate; determining a compensation profile; adjusting the compensation profile based on the transfer function of a motion system and the transfer function of a printing system; waiting until a defect once-around signal returns; and applying the output of the adjustment step to a controller controlling the speed of an imaging surface. | 02-19-2009 |
20090059266 | Method of automatically controlling print quality in digital printing - A method of automatically monitoring and controlling print quality in digital printing with a first and second scanner capturing an image from different locations in the printing engine. In an exemplary embodiment, a first scanner captures an image from a surface internal to the print engine while an external scanner captures an image from a printed sheet. If the external print image quality is acceptable, the internally captured image is saved as a reference. The system periodically compares internally captured images with the saved reference and provides automatic image correction if the variation from the reference is within a correctable range. If the image variation is not within a correctable range, the system runs a new test print and creates a new reference image. | 03-05-2009 |
20090231382 | Systems and Methods For Reducing Process Direction Registration Errors Of A Printhead Using A Linear Array Sensor - Systems and methods are provided for detecting process direction registration errors in a printer. The errors are detected by analyzing a metric of a dash minimum response obtained from a test pattern. The test pattern contains dashes. At least one dash is shifted in the process direction in relation to another dash. | 09-17-2009 |
20090273813 | METHOD OF CORRECTING STREAKS USING EXPOSURE MODULATION AND SPATIALLY VARYING TRCS - Systems and methods are provided for compensating for streak defects in images formed by an image forming device, such as a digital printer. The systems and methods include using both modulation of a raster output scanner (ROS actuation) and spatially varying tone reproduction curve (STRC actuation) in a common control system for improving streak correction. Low spatial frequency large amplitude streak defects are corrected using ROS actuation and high spatial frequency streak defects, as well as any residual low frequency defects, are corrected using STRC actuation. | 11-05-2009 |
20090296158 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO COMPENSATE STREAKS USING A SPATIALLY VARYING PRINTER MODEL AND RUN TIME UPDATES - Systems and methods are provided for compensating for streak defects in images formed by an image forming device, such as a digital printer. The methods include using a spatially varying printer model and run time updates to generate spatially varying tone reproduction curves (STRC actuation) in an iterative control system for improving streak correction in a digital printing machine. Streaks are rapidly learned and eliminated at cycle-up and tracked and eliminated during print run time using STRC actuation. | 12-03-2009 |
20100003044 | AMPLITUDE MODULATION OF ILLUMINATORS IN SENSING APPLICATIONS IN PRINTING SYSTEM - An image printing system includes a print engine and a sensing system. The print engine is configured to print a marking material image on a image bearing surface. The sensing system includes a plurality of illuminators, a modulator, a sensor, and a demodulator. Each illuminator is configured to simultaneously emit a light beam at the marking material image on the image bearing surface, thereby producing reflectance from the marking material image at least in a first direction. The modulator is configured to modulate an intensity characteristic of each of the light beams emitted by the illuminators such that each light beam has a different modulated waveform characteristic, where the waveform characteristic includes at least frequency. The sensor is configured to detect the reflectance from the plurality of light beams in the first direction and output a reflectance signal. The demodulator is configured to demodulate the reflectance signal to isolate a response of the marking material image to each of the individual illuminators. | 01-07-2010 |
20100014877 | DYNAMIC PROCESS CONTROL FOR PRINTING DEVICES IN THE PRESENCE OF RELOAD DEFECTS - Methods and systems are provided for controlling a printing device in the presence of reload defects. According to a first embodiment, a controller is provided to manage the printing of scheduled control patches immediately after an image of a print job. Accordingly to a second embodiment, a controller is configured to manage the printing of an image or a print job immediately after a control patch. | 01-21-2010 |
20100092191 | DYNAMIC PROCESS CONTROL FOR IMAGE PRINTING DEVICES IN THE PRESENCE OF RELOAD DEFECTS BASED ON CUSTOMER IMAGE CONTENT - A method and system for controlling an image printing system in the presence of reload defects are provided. The method comprises placing toner images on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction, determining the density of the toner image or a portion thereof being printed on the image bearing surface, and printing a scheduled control patch at a location in the cross-process direction on the image bearing surface, wherein the location where each control patch is printed is dynamically changed based on the density of the toner image adjacent the control patch or a portion thereof. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092200 | OPTIMIZATION OF RELOAD PERFORMANCE FOR PRINTER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS WITH DONOR ROLLS - A method creates a printing image charge on a photoreceptor printing region of a photoreceptor within a printing apparatus and, simultaneously with the creating of the printing image charge, charges source patches on the photoreceptor outside the photoreceptor printing region. The method then transfers developer material from a donor roll to the photoreceptor. The source patches cause developer material to be removed from areas of the donor roll outside a donor roll printing region to create developer material-depleted regions. The method then reloads the donor roll with developer material using a magnetic brush and evaluates a reload function of the donor roll by characteristics of developer material on target patches with developer material in areas of the non-printing region of the photoreceptor adjacent the target patches. The method then alters the printing image charge to maintain the reload function within a predetermined range. | 04-15-2010 |
20100214580 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED SOLID AREA AND HEAVY SHADOW UNIFORMITY IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - A method for minimizing cross-process non-uniformities in solid and heavy shadow regions of printed documents is provided. The method includes marking with a marking engine an image on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction; generating profile data of the image by sensing an optical characteristic of the image in a cross-process direction; adjusting at least one control actuator of the marking engine so as to shift the characteristic of a subsequent marked image in the cross-process direction to at least a target value; and generating a spatially varying tone reproduction curve to smooth the characteristic of the subsequent marked image towards the target value. | 08-26-2010 |
20100220363 | STREAK COMPENSATION USING MODEL BASED PROJECTIONS FOR RUN TIME UPDATES - Streak compensation in a digital printer is provided utilizing a spatially varying Printer Model and Run Time updates to generate Spatially Varying Tone Reproduction Curves (STRCs) which are used as actuators to compensate for streaks during run time. A full width array sensor is used to measure streak profiles and the STRCs are used as actuators to compensate for streaks. Streak profile measurements taken at a limited number of area coverage levels combined with a Printer Streaks Basis Function Model are used to estimate and project the streak behavior at all area coverage levels and at all inboard-to-outboard spatial locations. The projection is then used in a pixel-wise error feedback control scheme to drive each profile to a desired shape, thereby compensating for streaks. | 09-02-2010 |
20100272460 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRINT APPARATUS ROTATIONAL ASSEMBLY CLEANING BLADE ADJUSTMENT - An apparatus ( | 10-28-2010 |
20100321719 | MUTUAL ENGINE CONTROLLER - A printing device has a printing engine that is at least partially made up of a customer replaceable unit or units. An engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control the operations of the printing engine. A non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. An adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable unit has a memory unit and the adapter card reads data from the memory unit. The adapter card uses the data to directly alter values within the non-volatile memory by bypassing the engine controller when communicating with the non-volatile memory. Further, the adapter card alters the non-volatile memory without altering the software used by the engine controller. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321724 | MUTUALISTIC ENGINE CONTROLLER HAVING SENSOR COMMUNICATION - A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has many sensors (first sensors and second sensors) and at least one engine controller operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. Also, at least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. At least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the first sensors and second sensors. The first sensors correspond to the design of the controller and are items designed as original equipment of the printing device. To the contrary, the second sensors correspond to the design of the adapter card and are items designed to be installed in the printing device after the printing device is in post production, customer service. The adapter card receives feedback from the first sensors and the second sensors and the adapter card reads and modifies incoming print jobs before the print jobs are delivered to the controller. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321725 | MUTUALISTIC ENGINE CONTROLLER HAVING CUSTOMER REPLACEABLE UNIT COMMUNICATION - A printing device includes at least one printing engine that comprises customer replaceable units. At least one engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine, and the engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. At least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. Additionally, at least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable units each comprise a memory unit. The adapter card reads incoming print jobs before the print jobs are delivered to the controller and the adapter card accumulates and stores statistics relating to print jobs within the memory unit of the customer replaceable units. The adapter card passes the incoming print jobs to the controller in an unaltered manner. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321726 | MUTUALISTIC ENGINE CONTROLLER COMMUNICATING WIHT PRINTER NON-VOLATILE MEMORY - A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has actuators and sensors. At least one engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine, the engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. At least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. Further, at least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the actuators and sensors. The adapter card stores data and receives sensor feedback from the sensors. The adapter card uses the data and the sensor feedback to control the actuators by bypassing the engine controller when communicating with the actuators. The adapter card provides adapter card feedback to the non-volatile memory. | 12-23-2010 |
20110052228 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BANDING COMPENSATION USING ELECTROSTATIC VOLTMETER BASED SENSING - A method and system for compensating for an image quality defect in an image printing system comprising at least one marking station, the at least one marking station comprising a charging device for charging the image bearing surface, an exposing device for irradiating and discharging the image bearing surface to form a latent image, a developer unit for developing toner to the image bearing surface, and a transfer unit for transferring toner from the image bearing surface to an image accumulation surface is provided. The method includes sensing the image quality defect on an image bearing surface by an electrostatic voltmeter (ESV) in the image printing system and determining the frequency, amplitude, and/or phase of the image quality defect by a processor. In one embodiment, the method includes compensating for the image quality defect by modulating the power of an exposing device during an expose process. In another embodiment, the method includes compensating for the image quality defect by modifying image content. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058184 | LEAST SQUARES BASED EXPOSURE MODULATION FOR BANDING COMPENSATION - A method, system, and computer program product for estimating exposure modulation in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes determining a banding profile for an image printing system by a processor; determining an adjusted exposure modulation profile based on the banding profile using a least squares estimation by the processor; and printing an output based on the adjusted exposure profile. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058186 | LEAST SQUARES BASED COHERENT MULTIPAGE ANALYSIS OF PRINTER BANDING FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND COMPENSATION - A method, system, and computer program product for estimating a banding profile in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining image data across multiple measurement intervals by one or more sensors; combining the image data with timing information into a coherent signal by a processor; estimating periodic and aperiodic components of the coherent signal using least squares estimation by the processor, wherein the periodic component represents a banding profile; and wherein at least the periodic component is used to generate an output. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058226 | BANDING PROFILE ESTIMATION USING SPLINE INTERPOLATION - A method, system, and computer program product for estimating a banding profile in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining image data across multiple measurement intervals by a sensor; combining the image data with timing information into a coherent signal by a processor; determining aperiodic components of the coherent signal by the processor; determining the periodic component of the coherent signal using spline interpolation, wherein the periodic component represents a banding profile, by the processor; and printing an output print with a correction applied based on the banding profile. | 03-10-2011 |
20110109921 | PHOTORECEPTOR MOTION QUALITY ESTIMATION USING MULTIPLE SAMPLING INTERVALS - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining printer component velocity variations by analyzing multiple page test patterns. A test pattern, such as ladder chart targets, is produced that extends across multiple pages. Corresponding page sync signals are recorded and used to maintain phase coherence when analyzing scanned images associated with the multiple pages. An algorithm determines the ladder rung positions and the average photoreceptor velocity between each ladder rung on each scanned image for each page. Interpolation is used for proper phase alignment of the velocity data that spans multiple pages. The long assembly of phase coherent velocity data is then analyzed in one embodiment to determine its frequency content and to estimate the photoreceptor motion quality error sources. Based upon these estimated error sources, a trouble condition or pending maintenance problem with the printer is able to be indentified. | 05-12-2011 |
20110286753 | PHOTORECEPTOR DIAGNOSTIC METHOD BASED ON DETECTION OF CHARGE DEFICIENT SPOTS - Systems and methods of diagnosing a photoreceptor associated with an imaging device. The photoreceptor is configured to enter into a diagnostic cycle to complete a set number of cycles. A sensor or array is configured to a scan a component associated with the imaging device during each of the set of cycles to establish defect data. The defect data is analyzed to filter one or more charge deficient spots (CDS) from background noise in the defect data. The systems and methods determine whether the photoreceptor needs replacement based on the determined one or more CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the determination. The determination is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288821 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING THE USEABLE LIFE OF A PHOTORECEPTOR IN IMAGING DEVICES - Systems and methods of determining a predicted usable life of components, such as a photoreceptor, associated with an imaging device. The systems and methods include a power source configured to increase an electric field across the photoreceptor. A sensor or array is configured to detect charge deficient spots (CDS) in a charge transport layer (CTL) of the photoreceptor as a result of increasing the electric field. The systems and methods are configured to determine the predicted useable life of the photoreceptor based on the detected CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the estimation. The estimation is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device. | 11-24-2011 |
20120011001 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDED ADDRESSABLE CONTENT WITHIN TEXT AND GRAPHICS FOR DIGITAL MEDIA - A system and method is provided for embedding variable advertising content into an electronic book including a receiver positioned about the electronic book and configured to receive information; a processor for determining whether one or more tags are present in the information received and a replacement module for replacing the one or more tags with the advertising content, the advertising content derived from profile data associated with a plurality of users. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014566 | MOTION QUALITY ERROR DETECTION IN PRINTING SYSTEMS USING DOCUMENTS HAVING TEXT OR LINE CONTENT - A method for detecting motion quality error of printed documents having text in a printing system includes: printing a document having text lines, each text line comprising a plurality of characters; scanning the printed document to generate a scanned image; detecting positions in a process direction of the printing system of one of text lines and characters in the scanned image; determining position errors in the process direction in the printed document based on the detected positions in the scanned image; determining at least one motion quality defect of the printing system in the process direction based on the determined position errors; and initiating an activity associated with said printing system in response to a motion quality error having been determined. A system for detecting motion quality error of printed documents is also disclosed. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019842 | DIGITAL PRINTING CONTROL USING A SPECTROPHOTOMETER - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for xerographic Dmax control based upon measurements made on the printed paper using an inline spectrophotometer (ILS) or similar device. The disclosed method is based upon directly measuring the color to actuator sensitivity. Each of the separations is controlled independently using an actuator specific to that color separation. The present method is effective at controlling the color of the solid primaries. The fact that the vector of change is highly correlated with solid color variation seen in the field suggests that the teachings hereof effectively increase the solid color stability. Increased solid color stability increases the color stability throughout the printer gamut and the stability of the gamut boundaries, which increases the robustness of gamut mapping algorithms. Advantageously, the present method can be combined with existing ILS-based maintenance architectures. | 01-26-2012 |
20120057885 | METHOD FOR COLOR STABILITY DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON CORRELATION ANALYSIS - A diagnostic method for color stability in an image printing system includes printing a test pattern onto output media; measuring, during the printing of the test pattern, an image of the test pattern on an image transfer surface using one or more image transfer surface sensors to obtain one or more image transfer surface signals; measuring a printed image of the test pattern on the output media using a printed image sensor to obtain a printed image signal; calculating correlation functions for the one or more image transfer surface signals and the printed image signal; and analyzing the correlation functions for the one or more image transfer surface signals and the printed image signal to identify a subsystem in the image printing system that causes variations in color within the plurality of prints of the test pattern. | 03-08-2012 |
20120147390 | DIGITAL PRINTING CONTROL USING A SPECTROPHOTOMETER - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for xerographic Dmax control based upon measurements made on the printed paper using an inline spectrophotometer (ILS) or similar device. The disclosed method is based upon directly measuring the color to actuator sensitivity. Each of the separations is controlled independently using an actuator specific to that color separation. The present method is effective at controlling the color of the solid primaries. The fact that the vector of change is highly correlated with solid color variation seen in the field suggests that the teachings hereof effectively increase the solid color stability. Increased solid color stability increases the color stability throughout the printer gamut and the stability of the gamut boundaries, which increases the robustness of gamut mapping algorithms. Advantageously, the present method can be combined with existing ILS-based maintenance architectures. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148105 | AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING HUMAN-IN-THE-LOOP BASED ADAPTIVE LEARNING - An automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system and method using a human-in-the-loop based adaptive learning approach. One or more images with respect to an automotive vehicle can be segmented in order to determine a license plate of the automotive vehicle within a scene. An optical character recognition (OCR) engine loaded with an OCR algorithm can be further adapted to determine a character sequence of the license plate based on a training data set. A confidence level with respect to the images can be generated in order to route a low confidence image to an operator for obtaining a human interpreted image. The parameters with respect to the OCR algorithm can be adjusted based on the human interpreted image and the actual image of the license plate. A license plate design can be then incorporated into the OCR engine in order to automate the process of recognizing the license plate with respect to the automotive vehicle in a wide range of transportation related applications. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148272 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPENSATION OF BANDING FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES IN MARKING PLATFORM - A method for compensation of banding in a marking platform includes: initiating a calibration stage; marking a test pattern over multiple intervals of a lowest fundamental frequency among marking modules; obtaining image data for the test pattern from a sensor; obtaining 1x signals from sensors associated with the marking modules; and processing the image data in relation to the 1x signals to form banding profiles for multiple marking modules. Alternatively, the method may include: processing image data in relation to 1x signals to form banding profiles for multiple marking modules; determining amplitudes in multiple banding profiles exceeds a threshold to identify dominant banding profiles; and processing dominant banding profiles to form dominant banding signatures. Alternatively, the method may include: initiating a correction stage; obtaining 1x signals from sensors associated with dominant marking modules; and periodically processing dominant banding signatures and 1x signals to determine a banding compensation value. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155712 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION USING ADAPTIVE FEATURE SET - A method for determining a confidence level to be used in identifying a vehicle. The method includes receiving a vehicle image, extracting a license plate image from the at least one vehicle image, determining a license plate number and associated confidence level based upon the license plate image, and comparing the associated confidence level against a confidence threshold. If the associated confidence level is below the confidence threshold, the method further includes extracting auxiliary data from the at least one vehicle image, corresponding the extracted auxiliary data and a set of stored auxiliary data, and updating the associated confidence level to produce an updated confidence level based upon the correspondence of the extracted auxiliary data and the set of stored auxiliary data. | 06-21-2012 |
20120197425 | PRODUCTION SYSTEM CONTROL MODEL UPDATING USING CLOSED LOOP DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS - Methods and production control systems are presented in which design of experiments are performed in situ and produce model parameter estimates that relate actuator set points to any number of response variables, and the model is periodically updated based on these designed experiments and used as the basis for determining actuator set points. | 08-02-2012 |
20120200682 | METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING A PIXEL OF A HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGE IN A REMOTE SENSING APPLICATION - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for simultaneous spectral decomposition suitable for image object identification and categorization for scenes and objects under analysis. The present system captures different spectral planes simultaneously using a Fabry-Perot multi-filter grid each tuned to a specific wavelength. A method for classifying pixels in the captured image is provided. The present system and method finds its uses in a wide array of applications such as, for example, occupancy detection in a transportation management system and in medical imaging and diagnosis for healthcare management. The teachings hereof further find their uses in other applications where there is a need to capture a two dimensional view of a scene and decompose the scene into its spectral bands such that objects in the image can be appropriately identified. | 08-09-2012 |
20120250037 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPENSATION OF ARBITRARY BANDING SOURCES USING INLINE SENSING AND CONTROL - A method for compensation of banding in a marking platform includes: initiating a signature learning mode; establishing a timing reference after marking modules have achieved constant velocity; marking a test pattern over multiple intervals of a lowest fundamental frequency among marking modules; obtaining image data for the test pattern from a sensor; and processing the image data in relation to the timing reference to form banding profiles for multiple banding sources. Alternatively, the method may include: initiating a cycle up stage in a phase learning mode; establishing a timing reference after marking modules have achieved constant velocity; marking a test pattern over multiple intervals of a lowest fundamental frequency among marking modules; obtaining banding image data for the test pattern from a sensor; and processing the image data with banding signatures in relation to the timing reference to form phase estimates for each banding signature. Additional embodiments are also provided. | 10-04-2012 |
20130051625 | FRONT SEAT VEHICLE OCCUPANCY DETECTION VIA SEAT PATTERN RECOGNITION - What is disclosed is a system and method for determining whether a front seat in a motor vehicle is occupied based on seat pattern recognition. The present invention takes advantage of the observation that an unoccupied seat of a motor vehicle exhibits features which are distinguishable from an occupied seat. An unoccupied motor vehicle seat typically features long contiguous horizontal line segments and curve segments, and substantially uniform areas encompassed by these segments which are not present in an occupied seat. The present method provides a long horizontal edge test which uses location information within a defined window of the image, edge linking, softness of the edge, number of lines, line/curve fitting, and other techniques to locate horizontal edges in the image which define a seat, and a uniformity step which determines whether the area bounded by the horizontal edges is relatively uniform indicating an unoccupied seat. | 02-28-2013 |
20130077958 | MULTI-FILTER ARRAY FOR A MULTI-RESOLUTION, MULTI-SPECTRAL CAMERA - What is disclosed is a filter array for a multi-resolution multi-spectral camera system which not only captures 2D images at multiple wavelength bands simultaneously but also at a spatial resolution that meets the demand for spatial feature extraction. The present system optimizes filter bands that provide high image contrast at the highest possible resolution to enable spatial feature extraction and other wavelength bands at lower resolution to achieve maximum number of wavelength bands (e.g. spectral resolution) for multi-spectral analysis. After determining the required spatial resolution and number of wavelength bands for spectral analysis, multiple filters are arranged in a geometric pattern with each filter being designed to have specified wavelength and spatial resolution. Physical sizes of filters differ within each filter group. This maximizes the detector usage while optimizing the trade-off between spatial resolution and spectral resolution. Filter gaps are fixed or tuned to wavelengths of interest. | 03-28-2013 |
20130083303 | Multi-Level Imaging Using Single-Pass Imaging System Having Spatial Light Modulator and Anamorphic Projection Optics - An imaging system utilizes an anamorphic optical system to concentrate a two-dimensional modulated light field in a process direction such that a one-dimensional scan line image extending in a cross-process direction is generated on an imaging surface. The modulated light field is generated by directing homogeneous light onto light modulating elements arranged in a two-dimensional array. The array is configured using a scan line image data group made up of pixel image data portions. An associated group of the light modulating elements aligned in the process direction is configured by each pixel image data portion. When a pixel value is “partially on” (i.e., between “fully on” and “fully off”), the light modulating elements of the associated group are configured such that modulating elements located in the center of each group are activated, and elements located on the upper and lower ends of each group are deactivated. | 04-04-2013 |
20130106622 | HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM USING AN INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR REDUCED FALSE POSITIVES | 05-02-2013 |
20130141574 | VEHICLE OCCUPANCY DETECTION VIA SINGLE BAND INFRARED IMAGING - What is disclosed is a method for vehicle occupancy detection using a single band infrared imaging system. First, an infrared image of a vehicle intended to be processed for human occupancy detection is captured using a single band infrared camera set to a predefined wavelength band. A candidate sub-image is identified within the captured image. A cumulative histogram is formed using the reflectance values of each pixel in the candidate region. A threshold reflectance value is then determined from the cumulative histogram using a pre-defined cumulative occurrence fraction value which corresponds to a value equivalent to an average sized human face. Embodiments for setting the threshold reflectance value are disclosed. Thereafter, human occupants can be distinguished in the image from the vehicle's interior by comparing pixel reflectances in the sub-image against the threshold reflectance value. | 06-06-2013 |
20130147959 | DETERMINING A PIXEL CLASSIFICATION THRESHOLD FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANCY DETECTION - What is disclosed is a system and method for determining a pixel classification threshold for vehicle occupancy determination. An IR image of a moving vehicle is captured using a multi-band IR imaging system. A driver's face is detected using a face recognition algorithm. Multi-spectral information extracted from pixels identified as human tissue of the driver's face is used to determine a pixel classification threshold. This threshold is then used to facilitate a classification of pixels of a remainder of the IR image. Once pixels in the remainder of the image have been classified, a determination can be made whether the vehicle contains additional human occupants other than the driver. An authority is alerted in the instance where the vehicle is found to be traveling in a HOV/HOT lane requiring two or more human occupants and a determination has been made that the vehicle contains an insufficient number of human occupants. | 06-13-2013 |
20130182910 | LICENSE PLATE OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method and system for recognizing a license plate character utilizing a machine learning classifier. A license plate image with respect to a vehicle can be captured by an image capturing unit and the license plate image can be segmented into license plate character images. The character image can be preprocessed to remove a local background variation in the image and to define a local feature utilizing a quantization transformation. A classification margin for each character image can be identified utilizing a set of machine learning classifiers each binary in nature, for the character image. Each binary classifier can be trained utilizing a character sample as a positive class and all other characters as well as non-character images as a negative class. The character type associated with the classifier with a largest classification margin can be determined and the OCR result can be declared. | 07-18-2013 |
20130186290 | JOINT FEEDFORWARD & FEEDBACK CONTROL OF A KEYED INKING UNIT - A method and system to control ink keys for a printing machine is provided. The ink keys are adjustable to control ink feed to individual zones located across the width of an ink roller. Feedforward and feedback control loops adjust the ink supply dynamically based on a pixel count of the image content. The pixel count looks ahead in the video stream to allow time for the adjustment at the inker keys to propagate through the ink train to affect ink output onto the imaging drum. Feedback of the achieved ink density on control patches on the imaging drum is also used to command the inker key motors. Feedback is also used to update the inker propagation delay and dynamic model used to determine how much the inker keys need to be adjusted based on the pixel count stream. | 07-25-2013 |
20130186291 | IMAGE DATA BASED TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF A KEYLESS INKER - A method and systems to control the temperature of a Keyless inker for variable data lithography printing. Inker heating elements are adjustable to control ink feed to individual zones located across the width of an ink roller. Feedforward and feedback control loops adjust the ink supply dynamically based on a pixel count of the image content. The pixel count looks ahead in the video stream to allow time for the adjustment at the inker heating elements to propagate through the inker unit to affect ink output onto the imaging drum surface. Feedback of the achieved ink density on control patches on the imaging drum is also used to command the inker heating elements. Feedback is also used to update the inker propagation delay and dynamic model used to determine how much the inker keys need to be adjusted based on the pixel count stream. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188229 | IMAGE FEEDFORWARD LASER POWER CONTROL FOR A MULTI-MIRROR BASED HIGH POWER IMAGER - A power saving apparatus and method for imaging modules in a variable data lithography system is provided. The imaging modules are arranged adjacent to each other to project a scan line of imaging data on a rotating imaging member in a variable data lithography system. The imaging module includes a look ahead buffer which stores imaging data and from which the stored data is read out for projection on the imaging member. The power saving apparatus uses an image look ahead concept to save part of the power consumed in the imaging modules in the projection mode of operation by selectively powering each laser source based on the imaging data in the look ahead buffer. | 07-25-2013 |
20130204719 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION TO ENABLE ADVANCE ORDER PICKUP - An embodiment generally relates to systems and methods for processing orders associated with an establishment. In particular, a customer can submit a remote order for goods offered by the establishment, along with an associated license plate number of a vehicle that is to pick up the order. An image capture device can capture images of a vehicle on the premises of the establishment, and provide the images to a processing module which use automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) techniques to determine license plate data of the vehicle. The processing module can further examine an order list to determine if the license plate data is associated with an order on the order list, and, if so, add the order to a priority queue. | 08-08-2013 |
20130208304 | Reflex-Type Digital Offset Printing System With Serially Arranged Single-Pass, Single-Color Imaging Systems - A reflex-type digital offset printing system includes four single-pass, single-color digital imaging systems arranged along a print medium feed path, and an image server that utilizes a positional clock to implicitly synchronize the imaging systems with the movement of a print medium along the feed path such that single-color (e.g., black, cyan, magenta, or yellow) image portions can be successively superimposed to produce a full color image. Each single-color digital imaging system utilizes a digital micromirror device and an anamorphic imaging system to generate a high energy, one-dimensional modulated line image that selectively evaporates fountain solution from an imaging cylinder before ink material is applied. Each imaging system utilizes a sensor that sends a respective drum position signal to the image server, and the image server utilizes the drum position signals to synchronize the single-color printing operations with the position of the printing medium. | 08-15-2013 |
20130216248 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPENSATION OF BANDING FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES IN MARKING PLATFORM - A method for compensation of banding in a marking platform includes: initiating a calibration stage; marking a test pattern over multiple intervals of a lowest fundamental frequency among marking modules; obtaining image data for the test pattern from a sensor; obtaining 1× signals from sensors associated with the marking modules; and processing the image data in relation to the 1× signals to form banding profiles for multiple marking modules. Alternatively, the method may include: processing image data in relation to 1× signals to form banding profiles for multiple marking modules; determining amplitudes in multiple banding profiles exceeds a threshold to identify dominant banding profiles; and processing dominant banding profiles to form dominant banding signatures. Alternatively, the method may include: initiating a correction stage; obtaining 1× signals from sensors associated with dominant marking modules; and periodically processing dominant banding signatures and 1× signals to determine a banding compensation value. | 08-22-2013 |
20130226524 | ADAPTIVE MINIUMUM VARIANCE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH EMBEDDED DIAGNOSTIC FEATURE - Systems and methods perform a first monitoring of a printing engine to produce first data; match a disturbance model that empirically describes types of color variation in a print process to the first data; generate a minimum variance control system based on the identified parameters of the disturbance model. The systems/methods infer a benchmark performance level the minimum variance control system achieves using the disturbance model; adjust operating parameters of a controller of the printing engine to match parameters of the minimum variance control system; perform a second monitoring of the printing engine to produce second data; determine a difference value between the benchmark performance level and the second data. If the difference value is above a first value and below a second value, the process is repeated. If the difference value is above the first value and the second value, an indication that the printing engine needs servicing is provided. | 08-29-2013 |
20130236063 | MULTIPLE VIEW TRANSPORTATION IMAGING SYSTEMS - A camera may be positioned to have a direct view of on-coming vehicle traffic from a first perspective. Additionally, a reflective surface, such as a mirror, may be positioned within the viewing area of the same camera to provide the camera with a reflected view of vehicle traffic from a second perspective. The images recorded by the camera may then be received by a computing device. The computing device may separate the images into a direct view region and a reflected view region. After separation, the regions may be analyzed independently and/or combined with other regions, and the analyzed data may be stored. The regions may be analyzed to determine various vehicle characteristics, including, but not limited to, vehicle speed, license plate identification, vehicle occupancy, vehicle count, and vehicle type. | 09-12-2013 |
20130243260 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND PROCESSOR-READABLE MEDIA FOR TRACKING HISTORY DATA UTILIZING VEHICLE AND FACIAL INFORMATION - A method and system for tracking a customer history data utilizing a combination of vehicle and facial information. A license plate image with respect to a customer vehicle can be captured and information with respect to the license plate obtained. The license plate information can be employed as an unique customer identifier with respect to customer history data, if the customer places an order (e.g., drive-through service). Facial images of the customer upon entry to a store and/or upon checkout can be captured and processed. The checkout image can be matched against a set of images in order to associate customer order information with customer history data identified from the license plate information for tracking an in-store order transaction. | 09-19-2013 |
20130278768 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANCY DETECTION USING SMART ILLUMINATION - A multi-view imaging system for Vehicle Occupancy Detection (VOD) including a gantry mounted camera and illuminator to view the front seat of vehicles, and a roadside mounted camera and illuminator to view the rear seat of vehicles. The system controls the illuminator units to preserve/maximize bulb life, thus reducing the service cost of the system. In one embodiment, a target vehicle's license plate is read. If the vehicle is on a pre-approved list to use the HOV lane, then no further interrogation of the vehicle is performed. If the vehicle is not on the pre-approved list, then the front seats are interrogated by a camera and illuminator located on an overhead gantry as the vehicle continues down the highway. If the front seat analysis indicates that the passenger seat is not occupied, then the system interrogates the rear seats using a separate camera and illuminator located on the roadside. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282420 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REALTIME OCCUPANCY DETECTION OF VEHICLES APPROACHING RETAIL SITE FOR PREDICTIVE ORDERING - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for realtime occupancy detection of vehicles approaching a retail site for predictive ordering. A restaurant or other retail site can maintain access areas, such as a drive through lane or parking area, which vehicles can approach to order food or other items. A set of sensors can detect the vehicles, and estimate the number of occupants in those vehicles. Detection techniques can include face detection technology, seat detection technology, thermal imaging, or others. The number of occupants can be estimated and sent to a production management engine monitoring the site. That engine can responsively issue production instructions, such as a number and type of food items to prepare, and when. By integrating an operational model of the site, including projected order amounts and types, with the realtime occupant count, more accurate matching of food or other production to customer demand can be achieved. | 10-24-2013 |
20130336538 | Occupancy detection for managed lane enforcement based on localization and classification of windshield images - A system for detecting a vehicle occupancy violation includes an image capture module that acquires an image including a vehicle cabin from a camera positioned to view oncoming traffic. The system includes a violation determination device, which includes a feature extraction module that processes the image pixels for determining an image descriptor. The process is selected from a group consisting of a Successive Mean Quantization Transform; a Scale-Invariant Feature Transform; a Histogram of Gradients; a Bag-of-Visual-Words Representation; a Fisher Vector Representation; and, a combination of the above. The system further includes a classifier that determines a distance that the vehicle image descriptor/representation is positioned in the projected feature space relative to a hyper-plane. The classifier determines whether the distance meets a threshold and classifies the image when the threshold is met. A processor implements the modules. A graphic user interface outputs the classification. | 12-19-2013 |
20140063263 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBJECT TRACKING AND TIMING ACROSS MULTIPLE CAMERA VIEWS - A system and method for object tracking and timing across multiple camera views includes local and global tracking modules for tracking the location of objects as they traverse particular regions of interest within an area of interest. A local timing module measures the time spent with each object within the area captured by a camera. A global timing module measures the time taken by the tracked object to traverse the entire area of interest or the length of the stay of the object within the area of interest. | 03-06-2014 |
20140079315 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING MEMORY FOOTPRINTS ASSOCIATED WITH CLASSIFIERS - Methods and systems for reducing the required footprint of SNoW-based classifiers via optimization of classifier features. A compression technique involves two training cycles. The first cycle proceeds normally and the classifier weights from this cycle are used to rank the Successive Mean Quantization Transform (SMQT) features using several criteria. The top N (out of 512 features) are then chosen and the training cycle is repeated using only the top N features. It has been found that OCR accuracy is maintained using only 60 out of 512 features leading to an 88% reduction in RAM utilization at runtime. This coupled with a packing of the weights from doubles to single byte integers added a further 8× reduction in RAM footprint or a reduction of 68× over the baseline SNoW method. | 03-20-2014 |
20140168421 | MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION FROM A SPECTRAL FILTERED PATTERNED IMAGE WITHOUT DEMOSAICING - What is disclosed is a system and method for processing image data acquired using a multi-band infrared camera system with a spectral mosaic filter arranged in a geometric pattern without having to perform a demosaicing that is typical with processing data from an array of sensors. In one embodiment, image data that has been captured using a camera system that has a spectral filter mosaic comprising a plurality of spectral filters arrayed on a grid. A material index is determined, using intensity values collected by sensor elements associated with this cell's respective spectral filters. All of the material indices collectively generate a material index image. Thereafter, material identification is performed on the material index image using, for example, pixel classification. Because the demosaicing step can be effectively avoided, image processing time is reduced. The teachings hereof find their uses in a wide array of applications including automated HOV/HOT violation detection. | 06-19-2014 |
20140301597 | WINDSHIELD LOCALIZATION FOR OCCUPANCY DETECTION - A system and method to capture an image of an oncoming target vehicle and localize the windshield of the target vehicle. Upon capturing an image, it is then analyzed to detect certain features of the target vehicle. Based on geometrical relationships of the detected features, the area of the image containing the windshield of the vehicle can then be identified and localized for downstream processing. | 10-09-2014 |
20140301606 | DATA AUGMENTATION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION - Methods, systems, and processor-readable media for data augmentation utilized in an automatic license plate recognition engine. A machine-readable code can be associated with an automatic license plate recognition engine. The machine-readable code can be configured to define parameters that drive processing within the automatic license plate recognition engine to produce recognition results thereof and enhance a machine readability of a license plate recognized and analyzed via the automatic license plate recognition engine. | 10-09-2014 |
20140328518 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND PROCESSOR-READABLE MEDIA FOR DESIGNING A LICENSE PLATE OVERLAY DECAL HAVING INFRARED ANNOTATION MARKS - Methods, systems and processor-readable media for providing a license plate overlay decal with an infrared readable annotation mark for an optical character recognition and segmentation. The annotation mark with respect to character image of a license plate can be designed by training an ALPR engine to improve automatic license plate recognition performance. A plate overlay decal can be rendered with the annotation mark and attached to a license plate. The annotation mark can also be directly placed on the license plate when the license plate is rendered. The annotation mark is visible when illuminated by an infrared light and the license plate appears normal in visible light. The annotation mark enables an ALPR imaging system to obtain more information for each character and utilize the information to improve conclusion accuracy. | 11-06-2014 |
20140347511 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONFIDENCE-BASED IMAGE PROCESSING - A system and method for triggering image re-capture in image processing by receiving a first image captured using a first mode, performing a computer vision task on the first image to produce a first result, generating a confidence score of the first result using a machine learning technique, triggering an image re-capture using a second mode in response to the confidence score of the first result, and performing the computer vision task on a result of the image recapture using the second mode. | 11-27-2014 |
20140363051 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING TARGET VEHICLES FOR OCCUPANCY DETECTION - Methods and systems for selecting a target vehicle for occupancy detection utilizing vehicle identification information. The vehicle identification information (e.g., license plate information) can be obtained from a vehicle identification unit (e.g., ALPR) to identify a vehicle approaching a high occupancy measurement zone. The vehicle identification information from the vehicle identification unit can be transferred to a vehicle occupancy unit having a flash illuminator unit and an image-capturing unit. The flash illuminator unit and the image-capturing unit are not enabled if the vehicle's occupancy state has already been measured at a prior location based on the vehicle identification information. The vehicle occupancy detection unit and the vehicle identification unit work together in a coordinated fashion to reduce the number of times the flash illuminator unit needs to fire and extends the life of the illuminator unit, thus reducing the cost of maintenance. | 12-11-2014 |
20150054957 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED SEQUENCING OF VEHICLE UNDER LOW SPEED CONDITIONS FROM VIDEO - A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium is disclosed for determining a sequence order for vehicles in one or more image frames from an operational video, the operational video acquired from a fixed video camera comprising a field of view associated with a vehicle merge area where upstream traffic from a first lane and upstream traffic from a second lane merge to a single lane. The method can include obtaining operational video from a fixed video camera; detecting, within a region of interest (ROI) of the one or more image frames from the operational video, a first area and a second area in the vehicle merge area using a trained classifier that is trained to detect the first area and the second area; and determining the sequence order of the vehicles based on the first area and the second area that are detected. | 02-26-2015 |
20150070471 | DETERMINING SOURCE LANE OF MOVING ITEM MERGING INTO DESTINATION LANE - Methods and devices acquire images using a stereo camera or camera network aimed at a first location. The first location comprises multiple parallel primary lanes merging into a reduced number of at least one secondary lane, and moving items within the primary lanes initiate transactions while in the primary lanes and complete the transactions while in the secondary lane. Such methods and devices calculate distances of the moving items from the camera to identify in which of the primary lanes each of the moving items was located before merging into the secondary lane. These methods and devices then order the transactions in a merge order corresponding to a sequence in which the moving items entered the secondary lane from the primary lanes. Also, the methods and devices output the transactions in the merge. | 03-12-2015 |