EP0132134A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Digital image processing
Assignee: Machine Vision International Corp
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Filing: 1984-07-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A system and a method for processing digital representations of images to produce dilations and erosions at unparalleled speeds and efficiencies includes digital circuitry for effecting a dilation by repetitively delaying the serialized digital image and ORing the delayed digital image back into the serial signal stream. The circuitry thus includes a plurality of stages (128a-128f) each comprising a delay (130a-130f) and an OR gate (132a-132f) in which the input signal to the stage and the delayed signal are ORed.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Ronald Sternberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; G06T5/30; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for processing a start image made up of a matrix of points, said system comprising: serializing means (16) for producing a first serial signal representative of the start image; delay means (130a - 130f) for delaying the first serial signal producing a delay serial signal; and means (132a - 132f) for combining said first serial signal and said delay serial signal producing a third serial signal representative of a dilation of the start image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for processing a start image made up of a matrix of points, said system comprising: serializing means (16) for producing a first serial signal representative of the start image; delay means (130a - 130f) for delaying the first serial signal producing a delay serial signal; and means (132a - 132f) for combining said first serial signal and said delay serial signal producing a third serial signal representative of a dilation of the start image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A geometric logic unit according to Claim 1 wherein said combining means (132a - 132f) comprises means for logically combining said selected ones of said delayed signals and said input signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said combining means (132a - 132f) comprises means for ORing said first serial signal and said delay serial signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said delay means comprises a programmable delay circuit (130a - 130f) for selectively delaying an input signal applied to said circuit.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
48 words
A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4 which comprises a plurality of couplets each including one of said delay means (130a - 130f) and one of said combining means; and further comprising control means for routing the serial signal sequentially through said plurality of couplets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to Claim 5 wherein said control means includes a digital computer (36).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of dilating an image made of a matrix of points, said method comprising: serializing said matrix of points into a first serial signal; shifting said first signal to produce a second serial signal; and combining said first serial signal and said second delayed serial signal to produce a third serial signal representative of a dilation of said image.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of dilating an image made of a matrix of points, said method comprising: serializing said matrix of points into a first serial signal; shifting said first signal to produce a second serial signal; and combining said first serial signal and said second delayed serial signal to produce a third serial signal representative of a dilation of said image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to Claim 7 wherein said method comprises a plurality of step groups each comprising one of said shifting steps and one of said combining steps; and wherein said method further comprises routing said first serialized signal sequentially through said plurality of step groups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to Claim 8 wherein each of said shifting steps comprises delaying the serial signal inputted to the associated step group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein each of said combining steps comprises ORing the signals inputted to and delayed by the associated step group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
ll. A method according to Claim 8 wherein said sequential stages selectively delay and OR serialized digital signals in a predetermined pattern representing a geometric structuring element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to Claim 11 wherein said geometric structuring element is polar symmetric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 12 wherein said delays are selected in accordance with translations between extreme points of said polar symmetric structuring element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
An image processing system for processing at least one start image each made up of a matrix of points, said system comprising: serializing means for producing at least one first serial signals each representative of one of the start images; delay means coupled to said serializing means for time delaying selected ones of the first signals to produce at least one delayed serial signal each corresponding to one of said first signals; and operating means coupled to said delay means and to said serializing means for performing operations on selected ones of said delayed signals and said first signals to produce at least one output serial signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
An image processing system for processing at least one start image each made up of a matrix of points, said system comprising: serializing means for producing at least one first serial signals each representative of one of the start images; delay means coupled to said serializing means for time delaying selected ones of the first signals to produce at least one delayed serial signal each corresponding to one of said first signals; and operating means coupled to said delay means and to said serializing means for performing operations on selected ones of said delayed signals and said first signals to produce at least one output serial signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of processing at least one image each made up of a matrix of points, said method comprising: serializing each matrix of points into an input serial signal; shifting at least one of said input serial signals to produce a shifted serial signal; and operating on selected ones of said input serial signals and said delayed serial signals to produce at least one output signal representative of an output image.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of processing at least one image each made up of a matrix of points, said method comprising: serializing each matrix of points into an input serial signal; shifting at least one of said input serial signals to produce a shifted serial signal; and operating on selected ones of said input serial signals and said delayed serial signals to produce at least one output signal representative of an output image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 15 wherein said operating step comprises logically operating on one of said delayed signals and one of said input signals to produce said output signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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