Method for identifying vehicles in electronic images
First Claim
1. A method for identifying objects in an electronic image, comprising the steps of:
- providing an electronic source image generated with an array of pixels;
electronically processing the electronic source image to identify edge pixels that make up edge segments of the electronic source image;
providing an electronic representation of the edge pixels that make up corresponding edge segments of the electronic source image; and
processing the electronic representation of the edge pixels to identify valid edge center pixels in at least one row and provide an electronic representation of the valid edge center pixels, wherein each valid edge center pixel is the approximate horizontal center of a horizontal edge segment of essentially contiguous edge pixels having a target width.
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Abstract
A method for identifying objects in an electronic image is provided. The method includes the steps of providing an electronic source image and processing the electronic source image to identify edge pixels. The method further includes the steps of providing an electronic representation of the edge pixels and processing the electronic representation of the edge pixels to identify valid edge center pixels. The method still further includes the step of proving an electronic representation of the valid edge center pixels. Each valid edge center pixel represents the approximate center of a horizontal edge segment of a target width. The horizontal edge segment is made up of essentially contiguous edge pixels. The method also includes the steps of determining symmetry values of test regions associated with valid edge center pixels, and classifying the test regions based on factors including symmetry.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for identifying objects in an electronic image, comprising the steps of:
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providing an electronic source image generated with an array of pixels; electronically processing the electronic source image to identify edge pixels that make up edge segments of the electronic source image; providing an electronic representation of the edge pixels that make up corresponding edge segments of the electronic source image; and processing the electronic representation of the edge pixels to identify valid edge center pixels in at least one row and provide an electronic representation of the valid edge center pixels, wherein each valid edge center pixel is the approximate horizontal center of a horizontal edge segment of essentially contiguous edge pixels having a target width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for identifying features in an electronic image, comprising the steps of:
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providing an electronic source image generated with an array of pixels; processing the electronic source image to identify edge pixels that make up edge segments of the electronic source image; determining which of the identified edge pixels in at least one row are target edge pixels at the approximate horizontal center of a horizontal edge segment of essentially contiguous edge pixels having a target width; determining symmetry values for test regions in the electronic source image, wherein the test regions are located relative to corresponding target edge pixels, and wherein size of the test regions is a function of the row in which the corresponding target edge pixels are located; comparing determined symmetry values of test regions in the electronic source image that correspond to a segment of essentially contiguous edge pixels having a target width to identify the test region having the highest symmetry value; and classifying test regions having the highest symmetry value to identify test regions of interest, wherein a test region of interest is a test region comprising image characteristics consistent with the presence of a type of object in the source image that is to be detected. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for identifying potential vehicle regions in an electronic image, comprising the steps of:
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providing a source image generated by an array of pixels including at least one vehicle to be detected; electronically processing the source image to provide an edge image including edges corresponding to the edges of objects in the source image, wherein the edge image edges comprise edge pixels; removing edges from the edge image that are angled by a predetermined amount relative to horizontal; vertically thickening edges in the edge image; removing edges from the edge image that are longer than a maximum length; and identifying potential vehicle base edges in a row of the edge image, wherein a potential vehicle base edge is a horizontal edge of essentially contiguous edge pixels in the row, and wherein the horizontal edge has a width that is approximately equal to an expected width of a vehicle in the row. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification