Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graphic manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-12-18
Luu, Matthew (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graphic manipulation
C345S622000, C345S629000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331860
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the document processing arts. It finds application in conjunction with document printing, document scanning, and/or document copying systems and applications where oversized documents are processed.
The problem of scanning a document that is larger than the scannable-area of a platen is frequently encountered with digital scanners and copiers. A need exists to scan an oversized document into a document processing apparatus by scanning separate image segments and then electronically stitching the scanned image segments together to form the complete oversized document.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved method and apparatus for stitching scanned image segments together to form an oversized document which meets the above-stated needs and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for generating image data representing an oversized document is disclosed. The method includes a) displaying image data representing a plurality of scanned image segments of an oversized document; b) selecting a plurality of image features in an overlapping region of a first image segment and a plurality of image features in a corresponding overlapping region of a second image segment; c) determining a centroid value for each of a plurality of the selected image features; d) determining a set of correction values based on the centroid values; and e) merging image data representing the first image segment with image data representing the second image segment based on the set of correction values.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating image data representing an oversized document is disclosed. The apparatus includes hardware and software for displaying image data representing a plurality of scanned image segments of an oversized document; hardware and software for selecting a plurality of image features in an overlapping region of a first image segment and a plurality of image features in a corresponding overlapping region of a second image segment; hardware and software for determining a centroid value for each of a plurality of the selected image features; hardware and software for determining a set of correction values based on the centroid values; and hardware and software for merging image data representing the first image segment with image data representing the second image segment based on the set of correction values.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a method for merging together image data representing a plurality of image segments to form an oversized document. The method includes a) selecting a plurality of image features in an overlapping region of a first image segment and a plurality of image features in a corresponding overlapping region of a second image segment; b) determining a centroid value for each of the selected image features; c) determining a scale difference value between a selected image feature of the first image segment and a corresponding image feature of the second image segment based on the centroid values of the selected image feature of the first image segment and the corresponding image feature of the second image segment; d) determining an orientation difference value between a selected image feature of the first image segment and a corresponding image feature of the second image segment based on the centroid values of the selected image feature of the first image segment and the corresponding image feature of the second image segment; e) determining a translation value between a selected image feature of the first image segment and a corresponding image feature of the second image segment based on the centroid values of the selected image feature of the first image segment and the corresponding image feature of the second image segment; and f)merging image data representing the first image segment with image data representing the second image segment based on the scale difference value, the orientation difference value, and the translation value.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a document processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an input section adapted to obtain image data representing a plurality of image segments associated with an oversized document to be processed; a data storage section adapted to store the image data; a user interface adapted to display a first image segment and a second image segment and to obtain first feature selection data corresponding to the first image segment and second feature selection data corresponding to the second image segment; and a processor section adapted to a) determine a centroid value for each of the first feature selection data and second selection data, b) determine a scale difference value between the first feature selection data and the second feature selection data based on the corresponding centroid values, c) determine an orientation difference value between the first feature selection data and the second feature selection data based on the corresponding centroid values, d) determine a translation value between the first feature selection data and the second feature selection data based on the corresponding centroid values, and e) merge the image data representing the plurality of image segments based on the scale difference value, the orientation difference value, and the translation value.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method for generating image data representing an oversized document.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a an apparatus for generating image data representing an oversized document.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method for merging together image data representing a plurality of image segments to form an oversized document.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a document processing apparatus that merges together image data representing a plurality of image segments to form an oversized document.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
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Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Havan Thu-Thao
Luu Matthew
Xerox Corporation
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