Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.

Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.

An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire an image and designate whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image based on a comparison of a feature quantity of the image and a threshold value. A storage unit stores the threshold value. A display unit displays whether the image has been designated a color image or a monochrome image by the processor. An input device is configured to receive user input for changing whether the image is designated a color image or a monochrome image. The processor changes the threshold value stored in the storage unit when the user input changes whether the image is designated a color image or a monochrome image.

Disclosed is a method of processing data from an image scanner for reducing image artefacts. The image scanner comprises a first image sensor arranged to: record a first set of lines, the first set of lines comprising a plurality of pixels representing recorded intensities of a first colour, record a second set of lines, the second set of lines comprising a plurality of pixels representing recorded intensities of a second colour; and record a third set of lines, the third set of lines comprising a plurality of pixels representing recorded intensities of a third colour. The method comprises the steps of: processing at least two of the first, the second or the third set of lines to create a first combined set of lines and filtering said first combined set of lines to filter out image artefacts creating a first filtered combined set of lines.

An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of sets of component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of component images; smoothing the plurality of component images to generate respective sets of a plurality of sets of smoothed component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of smoothed component images; enhancing an edge in each of the plurality of smoothed component images to generate corresponding one set of a plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; generating single-component image data including one type of component value corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels by using the plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels using the single-component image data, the plurality of edge pixels constituting an edge in the target image.

An image scanner includes: a document table; a document cover; a light source; an image sensor; and a circuit configured to: acquire, as pre-reading black data, the line data that is generated by the image sensor in a state where the light source is turned off; after acquiring the pre-reading black data, acquire, as line image data, the line data that is generated by the image sensor in a state where light is emitted from the light source to an original document supported on the document table; after acquiring the line image data, acquire, as post-reading black data, the line data that is generated by the image sensor in a state where the light source is turned off; determine black reference data based on the post-reading black data and the pre-reading black data; and perform black correction on the line image data based on the black reference data.

An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire an image and designate whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image based on a comparison of a feature quantity of the image and a threshold value. A storage unit stores the threshold value. A display unit displays whether the image has been designated a color image or a monochrome image by the processor. An input device is configured to receive user input for changing whether the image is designated a color image or a monochrome image. The processor changes the threshold value stored in the storage unit when the user input changes whether the image is designated a color image or a monochrome image.

An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of sets of component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of component images; smoothing the plurality of component images to generate respective sets of a plurality of sets of smoothed component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of smoothed component images; enhancing an edge in each of the plurality of smoothed component images to generate corresponding one set of a plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; generating single-component image data including one type of component value corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels by using the plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels using the single-component image data, the plurality of edge pixels constituting an edge in the target image.

The present disclosure relates generally to digital watermarking for retail product packaging. A digital watermark can be carried in different color channels, and at with different signal polarities. Detection can utilize different illumination sources or image sensors with various filters to highlight signal in one or more of the channels.

Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.