1. A system for segmenting a time series of image frames in an anatomical scan, the system comprising:
a user input device configured for manually segmenting an image frame k in the time series of image frames;
an image processor configured to perform a non-rigid registration between the image frame k and a next image frame k+1 in the time series of image frames and compute a segmentation on the image frame k+1 based on the non-rigid registration, the image processor further configured to iteratively segment each subsequent image frame k+n in the time series of image frames using non-rigid registration with the segmented previous image frame k+(n\u22121) in the time series of image frames.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is further configured to perform a non-rigid registration between image frame and a previous image frame k\u22121 in the time series of image frames and iteratively segment each previous image frame k\u2212n in the time series of image frames using non-rigid registration with the segmented subsequent image frame k\u2212(n+1) in the time series of image frames.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to generate a moving mesh representative of a deformation field to perform non-rigid registration between image frames.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input device is further configured for manually updating the segmentation in one or more segmented images, and wherein the image processor is further configured to automatically update the segmentation in the previous andor subsequent image frames in the time series.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the image processor is configured to automatically update the segmentation of an image based on a weighted average of an updated segmentation in immediately subsequent and previous images in the time series.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to perform non-rigid registration between image frame k+n and image frame k+(n\u22121) in parallel for all images in the time series of image frames.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the image processor includes a graphics processing unit (GPU).
8. A system for segmenting a time series of image frames in an anatomical scan, the system comprising:
an image processor configured to receive a segmented image frame k from a time series of image frames and perform a non-rigid registration between the image frame k and a next image frame k+1 in the time series of image frames, and between image frame k and a previous image frame k\u22121 in the time series of image frames, the image processor further configured to compute a segmentation on the image frame k+1 and k\u22121 based on the non-rigid registration, the image processor further configured to segment each subsequent image frame k+n in the time series of image frames using non-rigid registration with the segmented previous image frame k+(n\u22121) in the time series of image frames, and to segment each previous image frame k\u2212n in the time series of image frames using non-rigid registration with the segmented subsequent image frame k\u2212(n+1) in the time series of image frames.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the image processor is configured to generate a moving mesh representative of a deformation field to perform non-rigid registration between image frames.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the image processor is further configured to receive one or more updated segmented images from the time series of image frames and automatically update the segmentation in the previous andor subsequent image frames in the time series.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the image processor is configured to automatically update the segmentation of an image based on a weighted average of an updated segmentation in immediately subsequent and previous images in the time series.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the image processor is configured to perform non-rigid registration between image frame k+n and image frame k+(n\u22121) andor between image frame k\u2212n and image frame k\u2212(n+1) in parallel for all images in the time series of image frames.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the image processor includes a graphics processing unit (GPU).
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the image processor is configured to determine a point correspondence between images to perform the non-rigid registration.
15. A method for segmenting a time series of image frames in an anatomical scan, the method comprising:
receiving, from the time series of image frames, a segmented image frame k;
performing a non-rigid registration between the image frame k and a next image frame k+1 and a previous image frame k\u22121 in the time series of image frames;
computing a segmentation on the image frames k+1 and k\u22121 based on the non-rigid registration;
segmenting each subsequent image frame k+n in the time series of image frames using non-rigid registration with the segmented previous image frame k+(n\u22121) in the time series of image frames; and
segmenting each previous image frame k\u2212n in the time series of image frames using non-rigid registration with the segmented previous image frame k\u2212(n+1) in the time series of image frames.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein performing non-rigid registration comprises:
generating a moving mesh representative of a deformation field to perform non-rigid registration between image frames.
17. The method of claim 15, and further comprising:
receiving one or more updated segmented images from the time series of image frames; and
automatically updating the segmentation in the previous andor subsequent image frames in the time series.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of automatically updating comprises:
determining a weighted average of an updated segmentation in immediately subsequent and previous images in the time series.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein non-rigid registration between image frame k+n and image frame k+(n\u22121) andor between image frame k\u2212n and image frame k\u2212(n+1) is performed in parallel for all images in the time series of image frames.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the non-rigid registration comprises:
determining a point correspondence between images.
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. An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles across a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
a reading unit for reading a recorded image recorded on the recording medium; and
a discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not a discharge-defective nozzle exists by detecting a difference of density information between read density information read by said reading unit and image density information intended to be recorded; and
a determining unit for determining, when said discriminating unit discriminates that a discharge-defective nozzle exists, a processing method to be executed is determined from a plurality of processing methods to be executed from a plurality of processing methods to prevent image deterioration due to the discharge-defective nozzle based upon a comparison between the difference of density information and a predetermined value.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the difference of density information is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, a complementary recording process for substituting a normal nozzle in place of the discharge-defective nozzle to record a portion which normally would be recorded by the discharge-defective nozzle is executed, and when the difference of density information is less than the predetermined value, an ink discharge amount adjusting process for adjusting an amount of discharged ink from the discharge-defective nozzle is executed.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the difference of density information is discriminated, a recovering process for recovering a state of ink discharge is first executed, regardless of a magnitude of the difference of density information.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink discharge amount adjusting process comprises adjusting an amount of discharged ink by increasing or decreasing a number of ejections from at least one nozzle.
5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink discharge amount adjusting process comprises adjusting an amount of discharged ink by shortening or lengthening pulses applied for ink ejection.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head includes a heat energy generating unit for applying heat to ink, the applied heat being sufficient to generate bubbles for displacing and discharging the ink.
7. An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles across a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
a reading unit for reading a recorded image recorded on the recording medium;
a first discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not each nozzle is a discharge-defective nozzle by detecting a difference of density information between read density information read by said reading unit and image density information intended to be recorded by a corresponding nozzle;
a second discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not a difference of density information is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value;
a third discriminating unit for discriminating a number of nozzles in which the difference of density information is detected; and
a determining unit for determining, when said first discriminating unit discriminates that one or more discharge-defective nozzles exists, a processing method to be executed from a plurality of processing methods to prevent image deterioration due to the one or more discharge-defective nozzles based upon results determined by said second discriminating unit and said third discriminating unit.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when said first discriminating unit discriminates that at least one nozzle is a discharge-defective nozzle and said second discriminating unit discriminates that the difference in density information for a nozzle is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value and said third discriminating unit discriminates that the number of nozzles in which the difference in density information is detected is equal to one, a complementary recording process for substituting a normal nozzle for the discharge-defective nozzle to record a portion which normally would be recorded by the discharge-defective nozzle is executed.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when said second discriminating unit discriminates that the difference of density information for at least one nozzle is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value and said third discriminating unit discriminates that the number of nozzles in which the difference in density information is detected is greater than one but less than a total number of nozzles included in the recording head, a recovering process for recovering a state of ink discharge is first executed and, when said first discriminating unit discriminates that at least one nozzle remains a discharge-defective nozzle after the recovering process is executed, a complementary recording process for substituting a normal nozzle for the at least one discharge-defective nozzle to record a portion which normally would be recorded by the at least one discharge-defective nozzle is executed.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when said first discriminating unit discriminates that at least one nozzle remains a discharge-defective nozzle and said second discriminating unit discriminates that the difference of density information for at least one nozzle remains equal to or greater than the first predetermined value after the recovering process and the complementary recording process are executed, an ink discharge amount adjusting process for adjusting an amount of discharged ink from the at least one discharge-defective nozzle is executed.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when said second discriminating unit discriminates that the difference of density information remains equal to or greater than the first predetermined value after the ink discharge amount adjusting process is executed, information regarding a necessity to replace the recording head or add ink is outputted.
12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when said second discriminating unit discriminates that the difference of density information for at least one nozzle is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value and said third discriminating unit discriminates that the number of nozzles in which the difference in density information is detected is equal to the total number of nozzles included in the recording head, information regarding a shortage of ink is outputted.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information regarding a shortage of ink is outputted via a display.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information regarding a shortage of ink is outputted via transmission to one or a plurality of computers via a host computer or a network which is connected to the ink-jet recording apparatus.
15. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when said first discriminating unit discriminates that at least one nozzle is a discharge-defective nozzle, said second discriminating unit discriminates that the difference of density information is less than the first predetermined value and said third discriminating unit discriminates that the number of nozzles in which the difference in density information is detected is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of nozzles, an ink discharge amount adjusting process for adjusting an amount of discharged ink from the at least one discharge-defective nozzle is executed.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the ink discharge amount adjusting process comprises adjusting an amount of discharged ink by increasing or decreasing a number of ejections from at least one nozzle.
17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said ink discharge amount adjusting process comprises adjusting an amount of discharged ink by shortening or lengthening pulses applied for ink ejection.
18. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when said second discriminating unit discriminates that said difference of density information is less than the first predetermined value and said third discriminating unit discriminates that the number of nozzles in which said difference in density information is detected is less than a predetermined number of nozzles, a recovering process for recovering a state of ink discharge is first executed and, when said first discriminating unit discriminates that at least one nozzle remains a discharge-defective nozzle, an ink discharge amount adjusting process for adjusting an amount of discharged ink from the at least one discharge-defective nozzle is executed.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ink discharge amount adjusting process comprises adjusting an amount of discharged ink by increasing or decreasing a number of ejections from the at least one discharge-defective nozzle.
20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ink discharge amount adjusting process comprises adjusting an amount of discharged ink by shortening or lengthening pulses applied for ink ejection.
21. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a second predetermined value which is less than the first predetermined value is set and, when the difference of density information is less than or equal to the second predetermined value, no process is executed.
22. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one pixel of the recorded image is formed by ink discharged from a plurality of discharge ports.
23. An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles across a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:
a discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not each nozzle is a discharge-defective nozzle; and
a determining unit for determining, when said discriminating unit discriminates that a discharge-defective nozzle exists, a processing method to be executed from a plurality of processing methods to prevent image deterioration due to the discharge-defective nozzle based upon an information difference between information which is indicated by a normal nozzle and information which is indicated by the discharge-defective nozzle.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein when said discriminating unit discriminates that at least one discharge-defective nozzle exists, a recovering process for recovering a state of ink discharge is first executed, regardless of a magnitude of the information difference.
25. An ink-jet recording method for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles across a recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:
reading a recorded image recorded on the recording medium;
discriminating whether or not a discharge-defective nozzle exists by detecting a difference of density information between read density information read in said reading step and image density information intended to be recorded; and
determining, when discriminated in said discriminating step that a discharge-defective nozzle exists, a processing method to be executed from a plurality of processing methods to prevent image deterioration due to the discharge-defective nozzle based upon a comparison between the difference of density information and a predetermined value.
26. An ink-jet recording method for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles across a recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:
reading a recorded image recorded on the recording medium;
discriminating in a first discriminating step whether or not each nozzle is a discharge-defective nozzle by detecting a difference of density information between read density information read in said reading step and image density information intended to be recorded by a corresponding nozzle;
discriminating in a second discriminating step whether or not a difference of density information is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value;
discriminating in a third discriminating step a number of nozzles in which the difference of density information is detected; and
determining, when discriminated in said first discriminating step that one or more discharge-defective nozzles exists, a processing method to be executed from a plurality of processing methods to prevent image deterioration due to the one or more discharge-defective nozzles based upon results determined in said second discriminating step and said third discriminating step.
27. An ink-jet recording method for recording an image by scanning a recording head having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles across a recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:
discriminating whether or not each nozzle is a discharge-defective nozzle; and
determining, when discriminated in said discriminating step that a discharge-defective nozzle exists, a processing method to be executed from a plurality of processing methods to prevent image deterioration due to the discharge-defective nozzle based upon an information difference between information which is indicated by a normal nozzle and information which is indicated by the discharge-defective nozzle.