US6282328B1
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US
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Machine vision systems and methods for morphological transformation of an image with non-uniform offsets
Assignee: Cognex Corp
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Filing: 1998-01-28
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Granted: 2001-08-28
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Expires: 2018-01-28
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides machine vision systems and methods for morphological transformation of a source image, e.g., with non-uniform offsets. According to these, pixels from selected “neighborhoods,” or regions, of the source image are rearranged, or unfolded, into respective columns of an intermediate image. For each column in the intermediate image, the method identifies a pixel intensity value of selected rank. Once the pixel intensity value of selected rank is identified for each column, it is retained in a transformation image, e.g., at a location corresponding to center of the respective neighborhood. The foregoing steps are repeated, e.g., along strips or bands, for each neighborhood in the source image.
Inventors
- 👤 Ranjit P. Desai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; G06T5/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A machine method for morphological transformation of a source image into a transformation image, the method comprising the steps of A. generating a first intermediate image by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image, B. for each of the selected columns of pixels in the intermediate image, determining a value of selected rank as between the pixels in that column by comparing intensities thereof, the value of selected rank being a “column winner” for that column, and retaining the column winner for that column in the transformation image, C. generating one or more further intermediate images by arranging pixels from further selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of respective such further intermediate images, and D. repeating step (B) for each respective further intermediate image, retaining the column winners determined in step (B) for each respective further intermediate image in the transformation image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A machine method for morphological transformation of a source image into a transformation image, the method comprising the steps of A. generating a first intermediate image by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image, B. for each of the selected columns of pixels in the intermediate image, determining a value of selected rank as between the pixels in that column by comparing intensities thereof, the value of selected rank being a “column winner” for that column, and retaining the column winner for that column in the transformation image, C. generating one or more further intermediate images by arranging pixels from further selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of respective such further intermediate images, and D. repeating step (B) for each respective further intermediate image, retaining the column winners determined in step (B) for each respective further intermediate image in the transformation image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein step (B) comprises (i) loading the selected columns of a first row of the first intermediate image into corresponding columns in a first data store, (ii) loading the selected columns of a second row of the first intermediate image into corresponding columns in a second data store, (iii) adding a respective offset to each of at least selected columns in the first and second stores, (iv) for each of the selected columns in the first data store, determining the column winner for that column by comparing a value in that column with a value in a corresponding column in the second store, and loading the column winner so determined into a corresponding column of the first data store.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 2 , comprising for each of the selected additional rows of pixels in the first intermediate image, loading the selected columns of that row into corresponding columns in the second store and repeating steps (B)(iii) and B(iv).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein step (B) comprises adding an offset to the intensity of each pixel in a column prior to comparing to it with others in that column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , adapted for dilation of the source image, where the selected rank in step (B) is a maximum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , adapted for erosion of the source image, where the selected rank in step (B) is a minimum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the neighborhoods are rectangular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 7 , wherein the neighborhoods are squares.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the neighborhoods are 3×3 squares.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium embodying program code for causing a digital data processor to carry out a method for morphological transformation of a source image into a transformation image, the method comprising the steps of A. generating a first intermediate image by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image, B. for each of the selected columns of pixels in the intermediate image, determining a value of selected rank as between the pixels in that column by comparing intensities thereof, the value of selected rank being a “column winner” for that column, and retaining the column winner for that column in the transformation image, C. generating one or more further intermediate images by arranging pixels from further selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of respective such further intermediate images, and D. repeating step (B) for each respective further intermediate image, retaining the column winners determined in step (B) for each respective further intermediate image in the transformation image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
174 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium embodying program code for causing a digital data processor to carry out a method for morphological transformation of a source image into a transformation image, the method comprising the steps of A. generating a first intermediate image by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image, B. for each of the selected columns of pixels in the intermediate image, determining a value of selected rank as between the pixels in that column by comparing intensities thereof, the value of selected rank being a “column winner” for that column, and retaining the column winner for that column in the transformation image, C. generating one or more further intermediate images by arranging pixels from further selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of respective such further intermediate images, and D. repeating step (B) for each respective further intermediate image, retaining the column winners determined in step (B) for each respective further intermediate image in the transformation image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An article according to claim 10 , wherein steps (A) and (C) comprise generating respective ones of the first and further intermediate images by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An article according to claim 10 , wherein step (B)(i) comprises adding an offset to the value of each pixel in a column prior to comparing to it with others in that column.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
An article according to claim 10 , wherein step (B) comprises (i) loading the selected columns of a first row of the first intermediate image into corresponding columns in a first data store, (ii) loading the selected columns of a second row of the first intermediate image into corresponding columns in a second data store, (iii) adding a respective offset to each of at least selected columns in the first and second stores, (iv) for each of the selected columns in the first data store, determining the column winner for that column by comparing a value in that column with a value in a corresponding column in the second store, and loading the column winner so determined into a corresponding column of the first data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article according to claim 10 , wherein the method is adapted for dilation of the source image, where the selected rank is a maximum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article according to claim 10 , wherein the method is adapted for erosion of the source image, where the selected rank is a minimum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
159 words
A digital data processing system for morphological transformation of a source image into a transformation image by carrying out a method comprising the steps of A. generating a first intermediate image by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image, B. for each of the selected columns of pixels in the intermediate image, determining a value of selected rank as between the pixels in that column by comparing intensities thereof, the value of selected rank being a “column winner” for that column, and retaining the column winner for that column in the transformation image, C. generating one or more further intermediate images by arranging pixels from further selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of respective such further intermediate images, and D. repeating step (B) for each respective further intermediate image, retaining the column winners determined in step (B) for each respective further intermediate image in the transformation image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
159 words
A digital data processing system for morphological transformation of a source image into a transformation image by carrying out a method comprising the steps of A. generating a first intermediate image by arranging pixels from selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of the intermediate image, B. for each of the selected columns of pixels in the intermediate image, determining a value of selected rank as between the pixels in that column by comparing intensities thereof, the value of selected rank being a “column winner” for that column, and retaining the column winner for that column in the transformation image, C. generating one or more further intermediate images by arranging pixels from further selected neighborhoods of the source image in respective columns of respective such further intermediate images, and D. repeating step (B) for each respective further intermediate image, retaining the column winners determined in step (B) for each respective further intermediate image in the transformation image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 16 , wherein step (B) comprises (i) loading the selected columns of a first row of the first intermediate image into corresponding columns in a first data store, (ii) loading the selected columns of a second row of the first intermediate image into corresponding columns in a second data store, (iii) adding a respective offset to each of at least selected columns in the first and second stores, (iv) for each of the selected columns in the first data store, determining the column winner for that column by comparing a value in that column with a value in a corresponding column in the second store, and loading the column winner so determined into a corresponding column of the first data store.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 17 , wherein the method comprises the step of, for each of the selected additional rows of pixels in the first intermediate image, loading the selected columns of that row into corresponding columns in the second store and repeating steps (B)(iii)-B(iv).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A digital data processing system according to any of claims 16 - 18 , wherein step (B) comprises adding an offset to the intensity of each pixel in a column prior to comparing to it with others in that column.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 16 , adapted for dilation of the source image, where the selected rank in step (B) is a maximum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 16 , adapted for erosion of the source image, where the selected rank in step (B) is a minimum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 16 , wherein the neighborhoods are rectangular.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 22 , wherein the neighborhoods are squares.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A digital data processing system according to claim 23 , wherein the neighborhoods are 3×3 squares.
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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) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |