Template matching method and target image area extraction apparatus
First Claim
1. A template matching method of calculating a matching value representing matching between a process area image and a target image by using the process area image in an arbitrary process area acquired from an edge image of an input image and template data representing a shape feature of the target image, and specifying an area of the target image in the input image on the basis of the matching value, the template data being formed from positive points representing positions at which an edge of the target image exists in the process area and negative points representing positions at which no edge exists in the process area, comprising:
- the first step of calculating the matching value in accordance with a positional relationship between the positive points, the negative points, and each edge present within the process area image.
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Abstract
According to a template matching method, a matching value representing matching between a process area image and a target image is calculated by using the process area image in an arbitrary process area acquired from the edge image of an input image and template data representing the shape feature of the target image. The area of the target image in the input image is specified on the basis of the matching value. The template data is formed from positive points representing positions at which the edge of the target image exists in the process area and negative points representing positions at which no edge exists in the process area. The matching value is calculated in accordance with the positional relationship between the positive points, the negative points, and each edge present within the process area image. A target image area extraction apparatus is also disclosed.
24 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A template matching method of calculating a matching value representing matching between a process area image and a target image by using the process area image in an arbitrary process area acquired from an edge image of an input image and template data representing a shape feature of the target image, and specifying an area of the target image in the input image on the basis of the matching value, the template data being formed from positive points representing positions at which an edge of the target image exists in the process area and negative points representing positions at which no edge exists in the process area, comprising:
the first step of calculating the matching value in accordance with a positional relationship between the positive points, the negative points, and each edge present within the process area image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A target image area extraction apparatus comprising:
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an image input unit which generates an edge image representing a contour of an object from an input image;
an image holding unit which holds and stores the edge image;
a template data holding unit which holds and stores template data representing a shape feature of a target image to be extracted;
a matching candidate output unit which generates, as matching candidate information, a plurality of types of parameters used for coordinate transformation of the template data;
a template coordinate calculation unit which performs coordinate transformation for the template data read out from said template data holding unit on the basis of the matching candidate information, and generates new template data;
a matching calculation unit which calculates matching values representing matching between process area images extracted from process areas sequentially set in the edge image of said image holding unit and the template data generated by said template coordinate calculation unit;
a target area specifying unit which, when a matching value obtained from said matching calculation unit exceeds a predetermined reference value, specifying a process area having the matching value as an area containing the target image; and
an area information extraction unit which outputs area information in a target image area on the basis of a coordinate position of the specified process area and the template data, wherein the template data is formed from positive points representing positions at which an edge of the target image exists in the process area and negative points representing positions at which no edge exists in the process area, and said template coordinate calculation unit calculates the matching value in accordance with a positional relationship between the positive points, the negative points, and each edge present within the process area image. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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(a) calculating a matching value based on a positional relationship between positive points, negative points, and an edge of a target image, the target image to be extracted from a process area image, wherein the positive points represent positions at which the edge exists within a process area, and the negative points represent positions at which the edge does not exist within the process area, wherein template data are derived from the positive points and the negative points and represent a shape feature of the target image, wherein the matching value matches the process area image to the target image by using the process area image in an arbitrary process area, wherein the arbitrary process area is defined by the template data and by an edge image of an input image; and
(b) specifying an area of the target image in the input image on the basis of the matching value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A device comprising:
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a template data holding unit that stores template data representing a shape feature of a target image to be extracted;
a template coordinate calculation unit that performs coordinate transformation on the template data based on matching candidate information and that generates new template data;
a matching calculation unit that calculates a matching value, wherein the matching value matches a process area to the new template data generated by the template coordinate calculation unit;
a target area specifying unit that specifies the process area associated with the matching value as an area containing the target image when the matching value exceeds a predetermined reference value; and
a target area information extraction unit that outputs area information for a target image area based on the new template data and a coordinate position of the specified process area, wherein the new template data are derived from positive points representing positions at which an edge of the target image exists within the process area and negative points representing positions at which no edge of the target image exists within the process area, and wherein the matching calculation unit calculates the matching value based on a positional relationship between the positive points, the negative points, and each edge present within the process area. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A device comprising:
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an image holding unit that stores an edge image representing a contour of an object in an input image; and
means for specifying a process area in the input image as a specified process area that contains a target image and for extracting the target image from the input image. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification