US5479535A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of extracting features of image
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1994-06-27
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Granted: 1995-12-26
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Expires: 2014-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A method of extracting a feature of an image, includes: a first step of performing a logarithmic conversion process for each pixel of an image taken by an electron microscope to carry out non-linear image enhancement; a second step of performing an N(N is a predetermined value) valued process for each pixel of the image underwent the logarithmic conversion process, threshold values for the N valued process being obtained by dividing the whole range of gray levels of the pixels by N, and gray level of the pixel being one of N constant gray level values by the N valued process; a third step of performing a partial differentiatial process in X- and Y-directions for each pixel of the image obtained by the second step, to make "0" the gray levels of pixels within the same area divided by the N valued process and make only the boundary between different areas divided by the N valued process to have a certain gray level; and a fourth step of detecting the boundary and extracting a feature of said image.
Inventors
- 👤 Fumio Komatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T7/00; G06T7/60; G06T7/10; G06T7/12; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10056; G06T2207/10061; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for extracting a desired feature of an image generated by an electron microscope, comprising the computer implemented steps of: a) inputting in a processor having a CPU and a frame memory said image generated by said electron microscope; b) storing pixels of said image in said frame memory; c) converting, in a logarithmic manner, each of said pixels using said CPU and creating non-linear image enhancement pixels; d) assigning each of said non-linear image enhancement pixels to one of N different groups each having a corresponding pixel value and converting said non-linear image enhancement pixels into valued process pixels, each of said valued process pixels in said different groups having said corresponding pixel value; e) partially differentiating said valued process pixels in X- and Y-directions using said CPU and creating partially differentiated pixels; and f) determining said desired feature of said image by detecting a boundary from said partially differentiated pixels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for extracting a desired feature of an image generated by an electron microscope, comprising the computer implemented steps of: a) inputting in a processor having a CPU and a frame memory said image generated by said electron microscope; b) storing pixels of said image in said frame memory; c) converting, in a logarithmic manner, each of said pixels using said CPU and creating non-linear image enhancement pixels; d) assigning each of said non-linear image enhancement pixels to one of N different groups each having a corresponding pixel value and converting said non-linear image enhancement pixels into valued process pixels, each of said valued process pixels in said different groups having said corresponding pixel value; e) partially differentiating said valued process pixels in X- and Y-directions using said CPU and creating partially differentiated pixels; and f) determining said desired feature of said image by detecting a boundary from said partially differentiated pixels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of detecting a pattern shape and a pattern size of said image by detecting partially differentiated pixels having equivalent magnitudes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said CPU performs the conversion in step c) according to the following equation: F'(X, Y)=CNmax(log F(X, Y)-log Fmin)/(log Fmax-log Fmin) where F(X, Y) represents a gray level of a pixel at coordinates (X, Y), Fmax represents a maximum gray level, Fmin represents a minimum gray level, CNmax is a constant value, F'(X, Y) represents a gray level of a non-linear image enhancement pixel at the coordinates (X, Y) obtained in said step c).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said CPU performs the conversion in step c) according to the following equation: F'(X, Y)=CNmax(log F(X, Y)-log Fmin)/(log Fmax-log Fmin) where F(X, Y) represents a gray level of a pixel at coordinates (X, Y), Fmax represents a maximum gray level, CNmax is a constant value, Fmin represents a minimum gray level, F'(X, Y) represents a gray level of a non-linear image enhancement pixel at the coordinates (X, Y) obtained in said step c).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step d) includes dividing said non-linear image enhancement pixels into N number of gray level groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said step d) includes dividing said non-linear image enhancement pixels into N number of gray level groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 1, wherein said image is generated by a single scan of an electron microscope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step e) includes making said valued process pixels within a same area equal to a first gray level value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said step d) includes assigning each of the non-linear image enhancement pixels to a gray level value representing one of the N number of gray level groups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said step d) includes making valued processing pixels on a boundary between areas equal to a second gray level value.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for extracting a desired feature of an image generated by an electron microscope, comprising the computer implemented steps of: inputting in a processor having a CPU and a frame memory said image generated by said electron microscope; storing electronic pixel signals of said image in said frame memory; converting, in a logarithmic manner, each of said electronic pixels signals using said CPU and creating non-linear image enhancement pixel signals; processing each of said non-linear image enhancement pixel signals using said CPU and creating N types of (N is a predetermined number valued process pixel signals; partially differentiating said N types of valued process pixel signals using said CPU in X- and Y- directions and creating partially differentiated pixel signals; and generating said desired feature of said image by detecting a boundary from said partially differentiated pixel signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for extracting a desired feature of an image generated by an electron microscope, comprising the computer implemented steps of: inputting in a processor having a CPU and a frame memory said image generated by said electron microscope; storing electronic pixel signals of said image in said frame memory; converting, in a logarithmic manner, each of said electronic pixels signals using said CPU and creating non-linear image enhancement pixel signals; processing each of said non-linear image enhancement pixel signals using said CPU and creating N types of (N is a predetermined number valued process pixel signals; partially differentiating said N types of valued process pixel signals using said CPU in X- and Y- directions and creating partially differentiated pixel signals; and generating said desired feature of said image by detecting a boundary from said partially differentiated pixel signals.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for extracting a desired feature of an image generated by an electron microscope, comprising: an image processor having a CPU and a frame memory for receiving said image generated by said electron microscope, said frame memory storing electronic pixel signals of said image and said CPU converting, in a logarithmic manner, each of said electronic pixels signals stored in said frame memory and creating non-linear image enhancement pixel signals, wherein said image processor further processes each of said non-linear image enhancement pixel signals and creates N types of (N is a predetermined number valued process pixel signals, partially differentiates said N types of valued process pixel signals in X- and Y- directions and creates partially differentiated pixel signals, and determines said desired feature of said image by detecting a boundary from said partially differentiated pixel signals.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for extracting a desired feature of an image generated by an electron microscope, comprising: an image processor having a CPU and a frame memory for receiving said image generated by said electron microscope, said frame memory storing electronic pixel signals of said image and said CPU converting, in a logarithmic manner, each of said electronic pixels signals stored in said frame memory and creating non-linear image enhancement pixel signals, wherein said image processor further processes each of said non-linear image enhancement pixel signals and creates N types of (N is a predetermined number valued process pixel signals, partially differentiates said N types of valued process pixel signals in X- and Y- directions and creates partially differentiated pixel signals, and determines said desired feature of said image by detecting a boundary from said partially differentiated pixel signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-25 | 1999-06-26 | 1999-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-25 | 2003-06-26 | 2003-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-25 | 2007-06-26 | 2007-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |