Corneal Imaging System: Environment from Eyes

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of exactly what visual information about the world is embedded within a single image of an eye. It turns out that the cornea of an eye and a camera viewing the eye form a catadioptric imaging system. We refer to this as a corneal imaging system. Unlike a typical catadioptric system, a corneal one is flexible in that the reflector (cornea) is not rigidly attached to the camera. Using a geometric model of the cornea based on anatomical studies, its 3D location and orientation can be estimated from a single image of the eye. Once this is done, a wide-angle view of the environment of the person can be obtained from the image. In addition, we can compute the projection of the environment onto the retina with its center aligned with the gaze direction. This foveated retinal image reveals what the person is looking at. We present a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the corneal imaging system including field of view, resolution and locus of viewpoints. When both eyes of a person are captured in an image, we have a stereo corneal imaging system. We analyze the epipolar geometry of this stereo system and show how it can be used to compute 3D structure. The framework we present in this paper for interpreting eye images is passive and non-invasive. It has direct implications for several fields including visual recognition, human-machine interfaces, computer graphics and human affect studies. This research was conducted while the first author was affiliated with Columbia University. A shorter version of this paper appeared in (Nishino and Nayar, 2004).     

基于外推的SAR图像分辨率增强算法

提高合成孔径雷达(SAR)图像的分辨率对自动目标识别等具有重要意义.本文通过对图像的二维频谱进行外推,扩展了SAR系统的等效带宽以达到提高图像分辨率的目的.文中给出了实现外推算法的详尽步骤并进行了仿真验证,仿真结果证实了算法的有效性.     

一种全实时SAR方位向数字预处理滤波器的设计

利用机载SAR方位向预处理的基本原理，巧妙地将方位向FIR滤波和降采样相结合，从而提出了一种SAR方位向预处理实时快速算法的VLSI结构，并利用HDL语言将该结构综合在了一片大规模CPLD上，得以硬件实现，外围辅助其它单元电路，研制成功了面向地学高分辨率机载SARY方位向预处理分机。经过使用证明，该分机可以适用于多种波段的机载SAR系统，达到了满意的处理效果。     

多孔硅结构电镜图像的数字处理

多孔硅在光电子和传感器领域是一种具有重要应用价值的材料,多孔硅网络结构的形状纹理直接影响其光学和热学性能。运用数字图像处理分析方法对多孔硅结构电子显微镜图像(SEM)进行特征提取,为多孔化率的测定提供了重要依据。     

A new wavelet-based measure of image focus

We present a new measure of image focus. It is based on wavelet transform of the image and is defined as a ratio of high-pass band and low-pass band norms. We show this measure is monotonic with respect to the degree of defocusation and sufficiently robust. We experimentally illustrate its performance on simulated as well as real data and compare it with existing focus measures (gray-level variance and energy of Laplacian). Finally, an application of the new measure in astronomical imaging is shown.     

Segmentation of ultrasound images by using a hybrid neural network

A hybrid neural network is presented for the segmentation of ultrasound images.

Feature vectors are formed by the discrete cosine transform of pixel intensities in region of interest (ROI). The elements and the dimension of the feature vectors are determined by considering only two parameters: The amount of ignored coefficients, and the dimension of the ROI.

First-layer-nodes of the proposed hybrid network represent hyperspheres (HSs) in the feature space. Feature space is partitioned by intersecting these HSs to represent the distribution of classes. The locations and radii of the HSs are found by the genetic algorithms.

Restricted Coulomb energy (RCE) network, modified RCE network, multi-layer perceptron and the proposed hybrid neural network are examined comparatively for the segmentation of ultrasound images.     

成像系统均方根半径及调制传递函数的计算

本文给出了逸出电子在最佳像面上落点的均方根半径值及直观图形表示;以实际管型为例,βeta分布取β_1,8至β_2,1,检验了均方根半径的变化状况,证明了理论分析的正确性;从数据上检验了均方根半径不仅可以表征系统鉴别率特性的好坏,而且和调制传递函数的优劣在像面上是一一对应的;证明了用指数形式表示系统的调制传递函数具有计算速度快、形式简洁、使用方便,并且在低频空间具有足够的精度.     

Numerically optimized hard pulse sequences for fast frequency selective excitation and inversion

Numerically optimized hard pulse sequences were developed providing a frequency selective response of the transverse and longitudinal magnetization for several applicationsin vivo. The sequences are based on pulse trains with binomial ratios of the pulse angles and constant time intervals between the pulses. These pulse trains were systematically optimized to obtain broad Larmor frequency ranges in which the magnetization is not markedly influenced by the pulse sequence. In addition, the sequences had to provide maximum transverse magnetization or complete inversion of the magnetization beside the suppression range. Such behaviour is needed for chemical shift selective imaging, pulsed magnetization transfer, and frequency selective spectroscopyin vivo. The phase of the magnetization response is shown and adequate rephasing conditions are discussed as well as the actual phase duration. Short optimized hard pulse sequences for water and fat-selective imaging provide lowT ₂-sensitivity of the resulting magnetization. The new optimized hard pulse sequences are suitable, if optimum suppression of signals at one single point in the Larmor frequency spectrum is less important than good suppression in a larger frequency range.     

Technical note—Approach to myocardial perfusion with echo planar imaging

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of MRI-based myocardial first-pass contrast perfusion imaging with a multi-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) technique. Subjects and methods: A non-sequential (ECG-triggered) gradient echo two-shot EPI acquisition strategy capable of covering the entire heart in contiguous 10-mm sections every two cardiac cycles with an in-plane resolution of 1.56 × 1.56 mm was implemented on a 1.5-T Signa Advantage Scanner equipped with prototype hardware for non-resonant EPI in the transverse plane. The heart of a single volunteer was studied prior to and following the intravenous bolus application of a paramagnetic contrast agent (Gd-DOTA, 0.2 mmol/kg). Results: Twelve contiguous transaxial 10-mm EPI images were obtained every two RR intervals for a total of 40 s. The myocardial contrast perfusion study was technically adequate. Contrast caused a signal loss of 87% in the right and 67% in the left ventricle and 59% in the myocardium. Conclusion: First-pass myocardial perfusion imaging with a gradient echo, two-shot echo planar imaging strategy is feasible.This work has been supported in part by SNF grant 32-2549.88 and KWF grant 2194.1.     

Applications of specialized coils for high-resolution MRI on a whole-body scanner

To investigate the application of a mini-coil surface system for high-resolution MRI, 60 volunteers were examined in a 1.5-T whole-body scanner. Two replaceable probe heads were available: a circular 2.5-cm coil and a quadratic 5-cm coil, both of which were placed directly on the skin. The skin layers, Achilles tendon and finger joints were examined with the 2.5-cm coil and a FOV of 25 × 25 mm². A matrix of 256 × 256 pixels resulted in a pixel size of 0.098 × 0.098 mm². For imaging of the carpal tunnel, the 5-cm coil was used in transverse orientation. The FOV was 50 × 50 mm² so that a matrix of 256 × 256 pixels led to a pixel size of 0.195 × 0.195 mm². The resulting spatial resolution permitted visualization of the epidermis, dermis and subcutis, resulting in clear definition of anatomical detail of the musculoskeletal system. MRI measurement of skin-layer thickness did not correlate with histometric data (p<0.05). This discrepancy was due in part to shrinkage of the tumor specimen on histologic preparation. Other causes include the motion artifacts and the limited accuracy of determining thickness on the MRI display unit.