1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
a first derivation unit configured to derive feature quantities in a plurality of local regions in an image;
an attribute discrimination unit configured to discriminate respective attributes of the derived feature quantities according to characteristics of the feature quantities;
a region setting unit configured to set a region-of-interest in the image;
a second derivation unit configured to discriminate attributes of the feature quantities contained in the region-of-interest based on the attributes discriminated by the attribute discrimination unit, and to derive likelihoods with respect to a predetermined plurality of types of objects in the region-of-interest according to discriminated attributes;
a dictionary selection unit configured to select a dictionary, from among a plurality of dictionaries set in advance, which represents a feature quantity specific to the object, according to the derived likelihoods; and
an object discrimination unit configured to discriminate objects in the region-of-interest, based on the feature quantity specific to the object extracted from the selected dictionary, and the feature quantities in the region-of-interest.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store attributes of feature quantities derived by the first derivation unit, and positions of the local regions corresponding to the attributes in association with each other,
wherein the second derivation unit reads out attributes stored in the storage unit associated with positions of the region-of-interest, and derives likelihoods in the region-of-interest with respect to a predetermined plurality of types of objects, from the read out attributes.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dictionary selection unit selects a dictionary corresponding to an object whose likelihood derived by the second derivation unit is not less than a threshold value, and
wherein the object discrimination unit discriminates an object whose likelihood derived by the second derivation unit in the region-of-interest is not less than the threshold value.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a division unit configured to divide the images into a plurality of blocks,
wherein the first derivation unit derives feature quantities in the blocks divided by the division unit.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reduction unit configured to reduce the images by a predetermined scale factor,
wherein the first derivation unit derives feature quantities in a plurality of local regions in the images reduced by the reduction unit,
wherein the region setting unit sets a region-of-interest in the images reduced by the reduction unit.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first derivation unit derives invariant feature quantities with respect to geometric transformations.
7. An image processing method comprising:
deriving, from a plurality of local regions in an image, feature quantities in the local regions;
discriminating respective attributes of the derived feature quantities, according to characteristics of the feature quantities;
setting a region-of-interest in the image;
discriminating attributes of feature quantities contained in the set region-of-interest, according to attributes of feature quantities in the local regions,
deriving likelihoods with respect to a predetermined plurality of types of objects in the region-of-interest from discriminated attributes;
selecting a dictionary that represents a feature quantity specific to the object, according to the derived likelihoods, from among a plurality of dictionaries set in advance with respect to objects; and
discriminating an object in the region-of-interest, based on the feature quantity specific to the object extracted from the selected dictionary that was set, and feature quantities in the region-of-interest.
8. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for instructing a computer to implement an image processing method, the method comprising:
deriving, from a plurality of local regions in an image, feature quantities in the local regions;
discriminating respective attributes of the derived feature quantities, according to characteristics of the feature quantities;
setting a region-of-interest in the image;
discriminating attributes of feature quantities contained in the set region-of-interest, according to attributes of feature quantities in the local regions,
deriving likelihoods with respect to a predetermined plurality of types of objects in the region-of-interest from discriminated attributes;
selecting a dictionary that represents a feature quantity specific to the object, according to the derived likelihoods, from among a plurality of dictionaries set in advance with respect to objects; and
discriminating an object in the region-of-interest, based on the feature quantity specific to object extracted from the selected dictionary that was set, and feature quantities in the region-of-interest.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A device for dispensing a fluid, comprising a flattened housing having two major sides, arranged to include therebetween at least one reservoir for containing said fluid; at least one pumping mechanism for expelling said fluid; and at least one orifice serving as an outlet for said fluid; said pumping mechanism being operable through at least one of said two major sides.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said two major sides are sealed together at their common edge to form said at least one reservoir.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is in fluid communication with said pumping mechanism such that said fluid contained within said reservoir is expellable by said pumping mechanism via said outlet.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing contains at least one orifice serving as an inlet for a fluid, said inlet being in fluid communication with said reservoir.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein a one way valve is interposed between said inlet and said reservoir, said one way valve serving to allow fluid to enter into said reservoir and to prevent fluid from escaping from said reservoir via said inlet.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said pumping mechanism includes a closed hollow flexible chamber with a predetermined internal volume compressible by application of a force to cause its internal volume to be reduced and being resilient, thereby to return, upon release of said force, to its precompression volume.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said compressive force is applicable upon a pressure point on a side of said housing.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein said chamber includes an intake port in fluid communication with said reservoir and an emitting port in fluid communication with said outlet.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein said pumping mechanism further includes a one way valve interposed between said emitting port and said outlet, said valve serving to allow fluid to be expelled from said chamber and dispensed via said outlet and to prevent fluid from entering said chamber; and a one way valve interposed between said intake port and said reservoir, said valve serving to allow fluid to enter said chamber and to prevent fluid from being expelled from said chamber into said reservoir; such that when said chamber is compressed fluid contained therein is expelled via said outlet and when said chamber resumes its precompression volume fluid contained within said reservoir is drawn into said chamber via said intake port.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said pumping mechanism comprises a pressurized gas expulsion mechanism for using pressurized gas to expel said fluid contained in said reservoir from said outlet.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid is a particulate material that can flow in a fluid manner controllable by said pumping mechanism.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially sized and shaped as a credit card, calling card, flyer, greeting card, price tag or bookmark.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing is enclosed within a credit card, calling card, flyer, greeting card, price tag, bookmark, book, booklet, pamphlet or envelope.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said major surfaces comprises a printing surface.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid comprises a fragrance.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid comprises a medicament.
17. A method of distributing single doses of fluid, the method comprising: containing said fluid in a device comprising a flattened housing having two major sides, containing therein at least one reservoir for containing said fluid, at least one pumping mechanism for expelling said fluid actuatable via a surface of said housing, and at least one orifice serving as an outlet for said fluid; and actuating said pumping mechanism such that said fluid is expelled from said reservoir via said outlet.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said pumping mechanism is hand-operable through at least one of said two major sides.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said fluid comprises a fragrance.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein said fluid comprises a medicament.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein said housing is substantially sized and shaped as a credit card, calling card, flyer, greeting card, price tag or bookmark.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein said housing is enclosed within a credit card, calling card, flyer, greeting card, price tag, book, booklet, bookmark, pamphlet or envelope.
23. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of said major surfaces comprises a printing surface.