Generalized shape autocorrelation for shape acquisition and recognition

Claim 2

A computer-implemented method for recognizing objects and for automatic acquisition of models of objects, comprising the steps of: (1) acquiring a model of an object, comprising, (a) digitizing said object to generate a digitized image; (b) detecting local shapes in said digitized image; (c) grouping three or more noncontinuous combinations of said local shapes to generate a first index; (d) generating an entry for each group of local shapes consisting of a name of said digitized image, and information about the translation, rotation, and scale of said digitized image; and (c) storing said entry in a shape table at said first index; and (2) recognizing a target object that appears in a physical scene, comprising, (a) digitizing said target object to generate a digitized target image; (b) detecting global shapes in said digitized target image; (c) grouping three or more noncontinuous combinations of said global shapes to generate a second index; (d) accessing said shape table and retrieving entries from said shape table that correspond to said second index; (e) collecting said retrieved entries from said shape table into a vote table; and (f) selecting said retrieved entry with a highest vote in order to recognize said target image.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: creating a local lookup table; entering local shapes to be recognized by the system into said local lookup table by synthetic generation; and using said local lookup table to detect local shapes in said digitized image.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: transforming three or more edge points of said digitized image into local groupings; analyzing said local groupings in a parameter space; comparing the geometric characteristics of said local groupings with local shape entries in a local lookup table; according votes to said local shape entries which correspond with said geometric characteristics; and adopting local shape descriptors corresponding to local shape entries which have a high number of votes.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: converting three or more local shapes of said digitized target image into global groupings; analyzing said global groupings in a parameter space; comparing the geometric characteristics of said global groupings with global shape entries in said shape table; according votes to said global shape entries which correspond with said geometric characteristics; and adopting global shape descriptors corresponding to global shape entries which have a high number of votes.

Claim 6

A computer-based system for recognizing objects and for automatic acquisition of models of objects, comprising: (a) means for acquiring a model of an object, comprising, (1) means for digitizing said object to generate a digitized image; (2) means for detecting local shapes in said digitized image; (3) means for grouping three or more noncontinuous combinations of said local shapes to generate a first index; (4) means for generating an entry for each group of local shapes consisting of a name of said digitized image, and information about the translation, rotation, and scale of said digitized image; and (5) a shape table; (6) means for storing said entry in said shape table at said first index; and (b) means for recognizing a target object that appears in a physical scene, comprising, (1) means for digitizing said target object to generate a digitized target image; (2) means for detecting global shapes in said digitized target image; (3) means for grouping three or more noncontinuous combinations of said global shapes to generate a second index; (4) means for accessing said shape table and for retrieving entries from said shape table that correspond to said second index; (5) means for collecting said retrieved entries from said shape table into a vote table and for selecting said retrieved entry with a highest vote in order to recognize said target.

Claim 7

A computer-based system for recognizing objects and for automatic acquisition of models of objects, comprising: (a) means for acquiring a model of an object, comprising, (1) means for digitizing said object to generate a digitized image; (2) means for detecting local shapes in said digitized image; (3) means for grouping three or more noncontinuous combinations of said local shapes to generate a first index; (4) means for generating an entry for each group of local shapes consisting of a name of said digitized image, and information about the translation, rotation, and scale of said digitized image; and (5) a shape table; (6) means for storing said entry in said shape table at said first index; and (b) means for recognizing a target object that appears in a physical scene, comprising, (1) means for digitizing said target object to generate a digitized target image; (2) means for detecting global shapes in said digitized target image; (3) means for grouping three or more noncontinuous combinations of said global shapes to generate a second index; (4) means for accessing said shape table and for retrieving entries from said shape table that correspond to said second index; (5) means for collecting said retrieved entries from said shape table into a vote table and for selecting said retrieved entry with a highest vote in order to recognize said target.

Claim 8

The computer-based system of claim 5, further comprising: (a) a camera adapted for viewing said target object and producing a signal indicative of said target object; and (b) a digitizer, connected to said camera, for digitizing said target object represented by said signal and storing said digitized target image in a storage medium.

Claim 9

The computer-based system of claim 5, further comprising: a local shape table; means for entering local shapes to be recognized into said local shape table by synthetic generation; and means for using said local shape table to detect local shapes in said digitized image.

Claim 10

The computer-based system of claim 5, further comprising: means for transforming three or more edge points of said digitized image into local groupings; means for analyzing said local groupings in a parameter space; means for comparing the geometric characteristics of said local groupings with local shape entries in a local lookup table; means for according votes to said local shape entries which correspond with said geometric characteristics; and means for adopting local shape descriptors corresponding to local shape entries which have a high number of votes.

Claim 11

The computer-based system of claim 5, further comprising: means for converting three or more local shapes of said digitized target image into global groupings; means for analyzing said global groupings in a parameter space; means for comparing the geometric characteristics of said global groupings with global shape entries in said global shape table; means for according votes to said global shape entries which correspond with said geometric characteristics; and means for adopting global shape descriptors corresponding to global shape entries which have a high number of votes.

Claim 12

The computer-based system of claim 5, further comprising: means for generating a recognition signal from said selected retrieved entry, wherein said recognition signal is indicative of a recognized target object.