Digital Torn Document Restoration via Image Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physical documents often become torn due to age or mishandling, making them difficult to read and handle, and manual repair methods can result in aesthetically imperfect results.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system that digitally restores torn documents by identifying and aligning separated image portions using techniques such as optical character recognition, boundary detection, and perspective correction to recreate the original document layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If manual repair methods (glue or adhesive) are used to join torn sections, then the document can be physically reassembled, but the aesthetic quality deteriorates due to conspicuously imperfect repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the torn document through image scanning or photography, then performs virtual reassembly of the torn sections. This digital copying approach eliminates the need for physical adhesive repair, preserving aesthetic quality while achieving reassembly through software-based image stitching and alignment algorithms.
2Ease of repair
If manual repair methods are used to join torn sections, then the document can be reassembled, but the time and labor required increase due to manual intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of physically aligning and gluing torn document sections with an automated digital image processing system. The computer automatically detects tear edges, aligns separated portions, and stitches images together using algorithms, eliminating manual labor and significantly reducing repair time.
3Shape
If digital restoration techniques are used to identify and align document portions, then aesthetic quality and readability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the computer system automatically performs document portion identification, tear detection, alignment calculation, and image stitching without requiring user intervention. The system uses automated image processing algorithms to analyze document geometry, detect tears, and reassemble portions, reducing the need for complex manual操作 while maintaining high aesthetic quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for digitally restoring content from a torn document. A computing device obtains an image of a document that has a tear. The computing device identifies portions of the image separated by a gap region representing the tear in the document. Content in the portions of the image adjacent to the gap region is then identified. The position of a portion of the image is incrementally adjusted to reduce the gap region without overlapping the portions. The position of the portion is adjusted to align the content along a boundary between the portions of the image.