System for extracting shape features from an image

• US 4,183,013 A
• Filed: 11/29/1976
• Issued: 01/08/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coulter Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coulter Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Kulkarni, Ashok V., Agrawala, Ashok K., Paul, Edwin H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo H.
• Application Number:
  US05/745,912
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 340/146.3 AC, 340/146.3 J, 340/146.3 AE, 340/146.3 MA, 340/146.3 D, 340/146.3 H, 235/92 PC
• US Class Current: 382/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/46 Descriptors for shape, contour or point-related descriptors, e.g. scale invariant feature transform [SIFT] or bags of words [BoW]; Salient regional features colour feature extraction G06V10/56

Abstract

A system for sequentially processing an image in order to identify objects in the image, and extract a variety of shape features of the identified objects. The system includes an image preprocessor, a controller, an object boundary resolver and identifier and a feature extractor. The image preprocessor scans the image and generates digital scan line signals wherein each bit is representative of a detected characteristic of an elemental region associated with a current scan position in the image. The object boundary resolver and identifier identifies object edge points from the digital scan line signals and maintains edge point data records representative of the position of the edge points in the two most recent scan lines. The resolver and identifier further processes the edge point data to identify continuation, creation, termination and merge conditions for the various objects within the image. For each of the identified objects, the feature extractor determines the presence of various shape features for the identified objects. These features include object count, perimeter (P), area (A), P² /A, moments, neck features and segmentation features. All the features identified by the feature extractor are extracted in a single pass, sequential processing of the image.

Claims

1. Method for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising the steps of:

A. scanning said array along said rows in a single pass and detecting and identifying edges of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image, generating edge signals representative thereof, and

B. processing said edge signals to identify segmentation features as a current line is scanned for each identified edge by identifying a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said segmentation feature identifying step includes the substeps of:

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

identifying in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment, and

identifying in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

3. Method for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising the steps of:

A. detecting and identifying boundaries of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image and generating boundary signals representative thereof,

B. processing said boundary signals to generate and store boundary data for each of the most recent pair of rows in said succession, said boundary data including;

dta representative of the position and type of edges of objects intercepted by said most recent pair of rows, said type being left, right, top or bottom,

C. generating and updating for each pair of rows, top view data from said boundary data, said top view data being representative of the cell position in said image and type of the left, right, top or bottom edge of an object which is both nearest to the respective cells in the most recent row of said succession and which is located at the same point along a previous row as the respective cells.

4. The method according to claim 3 comprising the further step of:

D. extracting left edge necks from said generated top view data for each pair of rows, and for each identified left edge in said most recent row, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for said most recent row which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between said identified left edge and the next identified right edge along said most recent row in said predetermined direction, and the distances between said identified left edge and all right edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view data and are less than D_L from said identified left edge, and which is further representative of the position of the cells which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determining the distance in said image between each left edge identified in the previous rows represented in said top view data, and less than D_L from and to the right of said identified left edge, and all right edges identified through said most recent row represented in said top view data, and less than D_L from, and to the right of said identified left edge, and when the distance from the left edge of one of said previous rows to one of said right edges is less than the D_L data previously stored for that row, replace said D_L data previously stored for that row with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance, and representative of the position of the cells which bound that distance,

iii. identifying as a left edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a left edge in an identified row by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for rows immediately previous to and including said identified row, and monotonically increased for rows immediately following said identified row,

E. extracting right edge necks from said generated top view data for each pair of rows, and for each identified right edge in said most recent row, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for said most recent row which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_R, in said image between said identified right edge and the next identified left edge along said most recent row in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distance between said identified right edge and all left edges identified in the previous rows which are represented in said top view data and are less than D_R from said identified right edge, and which is further representative of the position of the cells which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determining the distance in said image between each right edge identified in said previous rows, represented in said top view data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and all left edges identified through said most recent row represented in said top view data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and when the distance from the right edge of one of said previous rows to one of said left edges is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line, replace said D_R data previously stored for that row with replacement D_R data representative of said lesser distance and representative of the position of the cells which bound that distance,

iii. identifying as a right edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a right edge in an identified row by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for rows immediately previous to and including said identified row, and monotonically increased for rows immediately following said identified row,

F. extracting bottom edge necks from said generated top view data for each pair of rows, and for each identified bottom edge in said most recent row, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for said most recent two representative of the distance D_B in said image between said identified bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of said previous rows and represented in said top view data,

ii. determining and temporarily storing data for said most recent row representative of the distance D_P in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previous rows, and represented in said top view data,

iii. determining and temporarily storing data for said most recent row representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previous rows, and represented in said top view data, and

iv. identifying as a bottom edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from that identified bottom edge in said most recent row by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

5. Method for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising the steps of:

A. scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

B. detecting the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, and generating scan signals representative thereof,

C. processing said scan signals to identify left edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and concurrently generating a left edge signal for each identified left edge, said left edge signal being representative of the position of said identified left edge along said current scan line,

D. processing said scan signals to identify right edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and concurrently generating a right edge signal for each identified right edge, said right edge signal being representative of the position of said identified right edge in said current scan line,

E. storing current scan line data, said current scan line data including left and right edge signals generated as a current line is scanned, and storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data including left and right edge signals generated during the scan of the next previous line,

F. identifying objects by comparing each stored left and right edge signal of said current scan line data with said left and right edge signals of said stored previous scan line data, and including the substeps of;

i. identifying a new object in said current scan line,

ii. identifying an object left boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to the current scan line,

iii. identifying an object right boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to said current scan line,

iv. identifying an object which has terminated between said next previous and said current scan lines,

v. identifying an object which has merged with another object between said next previous and current scan lines.

6. The method according to claim 5 comprising the further steps of:

identifying the left, right, top and bottom edges defining at least one identified object in a current scan line as that line is scanned, and generating corresponding update edge point data and associated update line data, said update edge point data including;

A. left edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line identified as left edges of said identified object,

B. right edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line identified as right edges of said identified object,

C. top edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line including top edges of said identified object,

D. bottom edge data words representative of the position of regions in current scan line including bottom edges of said identified object,

E. a line data word representative of the relative position of said current scan line among said succession of scan lines for each of said left edge, right edge, top edge, and bottom edge data words.

7. The method according to claim 6 comprising the further steps of:

A. generating projection data including current top view edge point data and current top view line data for at least one identified object in said current scan line as that line is scanned, said current top view data edge point data and current top view line data being representative of said update edge point data and update line data for the regions of said current scan line represented by said updata data and being the same as the top view edge point data and top view edge point data and top view line data of the next previous scan line for the remaining regions of said current scan line.

8. The method according to claim 7 comprising the further steps of:

identifying as a current line is scanned, the position of internal neck features in said image for portions of said one identified object scanned by the previous lines of scan, including the substeps of;

B. extracting left edge necks as a current line is scanned for the identified left edge of said one identified object in said current scan line, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between said identified left edge and the next identified right edge along said current scan line in said predetermined direction, and the distances between said identified left edge and all right edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_L from said identified left edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determining the distance in said image between each left edge identified in said previously scanned lines represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from and to the right of said identified left edge, and all right edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from, and to the right of said identified left edge, and when the distance from the left edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said right edges is less than the D_L data previously stored for that line, replace said D_L data previously stored for that line with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance, and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identifying as a left edge neck the portion of said one identified object defined from a left edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

C. extracting right edge necks as a current line is scanned for the identified right edge of said one identified object in said current scan line, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_R, in said image between said identified right edge and the next identified left edge along said current scan line in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distance between said identified right edge and all left edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_R from said identified right edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determining the distance in said image between each right edge identified in said previously scanned lines, represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and all left edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and when the distance from the right edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said left edges is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line, replace said D_R data previously stored for that line with replacement D_R data representative of said lesser distance and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identifying as a right edge neck the portion of said one identified object defined from a right edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

D. extracting bottom edge necks as a current line is scanned for the identified bottom edge of said one identified object in said current scan line, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for said current line representative of the distance D_B in said image between said identified bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

ii. determining and temporarily storing data for said current line representative of the distance D_P in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iii. determining and temporarily storing data for said current line representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iv. identifying as a bottom edge neck the portion of said one identified object defined from that identified bottom edge in said current scan line by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

9. The method according to claim 6 comprising the further step of:

determining object perimeters as a current line is scanned, by maintaining a cumulative count from line to line of said identified left edges, right edges, top edges and bottom edges for an identified object, said cumulative count being representative of the perimeter, P, of the portion of said identified object covered by the first through the current scan lines.

10. The method according to claim 9 comprising the further step of:

determining object areas as a current line is scanned, by determining the number of regions between identified left and right edges for an object in said current scan line, and maintaining a cumulative count from line to line of said numbers for the first through the current scan lines, said cumulative count being representative of the area, A, of the portion of said identified object covered by those scan lines.

11. The method according to claim 10 comprising the further step of:

generating a signal representative of the ratio P² /A.

12. The method according to claim 6 comprising the further step of:

determining object areas as a current line is scanned, by determining the number of regions between identified left and right edges for an object in said current scan line, and maintaining a cumulative count from line to line of said numbers for the first through the current scan lines, said cumulative count being representative of the area, A, of the portion of said identified object covered by those scan lines.

13. The method according to claim 6 comprising the further step of:

determining object Y-moments as a current line is scanned, by generating an incremental Y-moment signal for an identified object representative of the product of the distance between said current and the first scan lines and the difference in position of the left and right edges of said object in said current scan line, and maintaining a cumulative Y-moment signal proportional to the sum of said incremental Y-moment signals, said cumulative Y-moment signal being representative of the first moment in the direction perpendicular to the direction of said scan lines of the portion of said identified object covered by the first through the current scan lines.

14. The method according to claim 6 comprising the further step of:

determining object X-moments as a current line is scanned, by generating an incremental X-moment signal for an identified object representative of the difference between the square of the position of the left edge of said object in said current scan line and the square of the position of the right edge of said object in said current scan line, and maintaining a cumulative X-moment signal proportional to the sum of said incremental X-moment signals, said cumulative X-moment signal being representative of the first moment in the direction of the scan lines of the portion of said identified object covered by the first through the current scan lines.

15. The method according to claim 5 comprising the further step of:

identifying segmentation features as a current line is scanned for each identified edge by identifying a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said segmentation feature identifying step includes the substeps of:

identifying in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

identifying in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

17. Method for extracting features of one or more body objects against a background in a two dimensional image, said body objects having boundaries and being characterized within said boundaries by a value of a detectable characteristic in a first predetermined range, and said background being characterized by a value of said characteristic in a second predetermined range, and said image having a border characterized by a value of said characteristic in said first range, comprising the steps of:

A. scanning said image in a single pass, along a succession of N substantially parallel lines of scan, where N is an integer,

B. detecting the value of said characteristic of M contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, and generating scan signals representative thereof, where M is an integer,

C. processing said scan signals to identify left edge regions in each scan line as said lines are scanned, each of said left edge regions being the first region along said scan line which is characterized by a value of said characteristic in said first range and which follows a region characterized by a value of said characteristic in said second range, and concurrently generating a left edge signal X_L.sbsb.i (k) for each identified left edge region, said left edge signal being representative of the scan line k currently being scanned and in which said left edge region is identified, where k is an integer and 1≦

k<

N, and being further representative of the displacement X_L from the left boundary of said image and the sequential position i of said left edge region along said current scan line, where i is an integer and 1≦

i≦

M/2,

D. processing said scan signals to identify right edge regions in each scan line as said lines are scanned, each of said right edge regions being the first region along said scan line which is characterized by a value of said characteristic in said second range, and which follows a region characterized by a value of said characteristic in said first range, and concurrently generating a right edge signal X_R.sbsb.i (k) for each identified right edge region, said right edge signal being representative of the scan line k currently being scanned and in which said right edge region is identified, and being further representative of the displacement X_R from the left edge of said image and the sequential position i of said pair in said current scan line,

E. storing as generated said current (k^th) line left and right edge signals, X_L.sbsb.1 (k), X_L.sbsb.2 (k), . . ., X_L.sbsb.i (k), . . . and X_R.sbsb.1 (k), X_R.sbsb.2 (k), . . ., X_R.sbsb.i (k), . . . and following the detection of the Mth region in said k^th scan line, storing said k^th line left and right edge signals as the next previous (k-1^th) line left and right edge signals, X_L.sbsb.1 (k-1), X_L.sbsb.2 (k-1), . . ., X_Lj (k-1), . . ., and X_R.sbsb.1 (k-1), X_R.sbsb.2 (k-1), . . ., X_R.sbsb.j (k-1), . . ., where j is an integer and is representative of the sequential position of one of said edge signals in said k-1^th line, and 1≦

j≦

M/2,

F. identifying objects as said k^th line is scanned by comparing each stored k^th line left and right edge signal with said stored k^th line left and right edge signals, and generating and storing an object number signal in said memory in association with each k^th line left and right edge signal, including the substeps of;

i. identifying a new body object having a left boundary at X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.i+1 (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1)

unless

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.i-1 (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1),

and a right boundary at X_R.sbsb.i+1 (k), and generating a unique object number signal for each identified new body object and storing said object number signal in said memory in association with X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) and X_R.sbsb.i+1 (k),

ii. identifying a new hole object having a left boundary at X_R.sbsb.i (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1),

unless

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1),

and a right boundary at X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k), and generating a unique object number signal for each identified new hole object and storing said object number signal in said memory in association with X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) and X_R.sbsb.i (k),

iii. identifying an object boundary which continues from X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) to X_L.sbsb.i (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.i-1 (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)

and generating the same object number signal stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) for each identified continued object left boundary and storing said same object number signal in said memory in association with X_L.sbsb.i (k),

iv. identifying an object boundary which continues from X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) to X_R.sbsb.i (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sub.i+1 (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1)

and generating the same object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) for each identified continued object right boundary and storing said same object number signal in said memory in association with X_R.sbsb.i (k),

v. identifying a terminated body object when an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) and X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) are identical,

vi. identifying a terminated hole object when an object boundary at X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) and X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) are identical,

vii. identifying merged body objects when an object boundary at X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) and X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) are representative of different body objects,

viii. identifying merged hole objects when an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) and X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) are representative of different hole objects,

ix. identifying a hole object which merges with a body object when;

a. an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j+1 (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is representative of a hole object and the object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is representative of a body object, or

b. an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is representative of a body object and the object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) is representative of a hole object,

x. identifying a body object which merges with a hole object when;

a. an object left boundary at X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) is representative of a body object and the object number signal stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is representative of a hole object, or

b. an object boundary at X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is representative of a hole object and the object number signal stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k) is representative of a body object.

18. The method according to claim 17 comprising the further step of:

G. tabulating objects by generating and storing type, status, and parent data for each identified object at a location in said memory associated with said object, and updating said stored type, parent and status data at least once per scan line, said tabulating step including the substeps of;

i. generating said type data in response to the identification of a new object in the k^th scan line, said type data being representative of a first type when said new object is a body object and of a second type when said new object is a hole object,

ii. generating said status data, said status data being representative of;

a. continuation status when continued left and right boundaries of said object are identified in said k^th scan line,

b. termination status when said object is identified to be a terminated body or hole object in the k^th scan line,

c. merge status when said object is identified in the k^th scan line to be a body or hole object with which a body or hole object has merged,

iii. generating said parent data for an identified new object in response to the identification of said new object in the k^th scan line, said parent data being representative of the object number of the next previous object currently having only a single edge signal identified when said new body is identified, and

iv. updating said parent data for two objects identified as merged objects in the k^th scan line, said updated parent data being representative of the object number of a predetermined one of said merged objects.

19. The method according to claim 17 comprising the further step of:

identifying the left, right, top and bottom edges of the boundaries defining each identified body object in said k^th scan line as said k^th line is scanned, and generating corresponding update edge point data and associated update line data, said update edge point data including;

A. left edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of an identified left edge region, and

ii. the position of each region in said k^th scan line between an identified left edge region and the region in said k^th scan line corresponding to an identified left edge region on an identified boundary continuing from said k-1^th scan line to said identified left edge region,

B. right edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of an identified right edge region, and

ii. the position of each region in said k^th scan line between an identified right edge region and the region in said k^th scan line corresponding to an identified right edge region on an identified boundary continuing from said k-1^th scan line to said identified right edge region,

C. top edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between the identified left and right edge regions in said k^th scan line associated with a body object identified as a new body object in said k^th scan line, and

ii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between regions in said k^th scan line corresponding to the identified right and left edge regions in said k-1^th scan line associated with a hole object identified as terminated in said k^th scan line,

iii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between regions in said k^th scan line corresponding to successive identified right edge and left edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said right edge and left edge regions are associated with body objects identified as merged in said k^th scan line,

D. bottom edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between regions in said k^th scan line corresponding to identified left edge and right edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said left and right edge regions are associated with a body object identified as terminated in said k^th scan line,

ii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between the identified right and left edge regions in said k^th scan line associated with a hole object identified as a new hole object in said k^th scan line,

iii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region in said k^th scan line corresponding to successive identified left edge and right edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said left and right edge regions are associated with hole objects identified as merged in said k^th scan line,

iv. the position in said k^th scan line of each region in said k^th scan line corresponding to successive identified left edge and right edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said left and right edge regions are associated with hole and body objects identified as merged in said k^th scan line,

E. a line data word representative of the identity of said k^th scan line for each of said left edge, right edge, top edge, and bottom edge data words.

20. The method according to claim 19 comprising the further step of:

A. generating and storing current top view edge point and current top view line data for each identified body object in said k^th scan line as said k^th line is scanned, current top view edge point and top view line data being representative of;

i. said generated update edge point and update line data for regions of said k^th scan line for which said update edge point data is generated,

ii. the same edge point and line data in said top view line data for said k-1^th scan line for the remaining regions of said k^th scan line.

21. The method according to claim 20 comprising the further step of:

identifying as the k+1^th line is scanned, the position of internal neck features in said image for portions of an identified body object scanned by the first k of said lines of scan, including the substeps of;

B. extracting left edge necks as the k+1^th line is scanned for each identified left edge region in said k+1^th scan line, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for the k+1^th line representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between that identified k+1^th line left edge region and the next identified right edge region along said k+1^th scan line in said predetermined direction, and the distances between that identified k+1th left edge region and all right edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_L from that identified k+1^th line left edge region, and further represenative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

ii. determining the distance in said image between each left edge region identified in scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, less than D_L from and to the right of that identified k+1^th line left edge region, and all right edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k+1 represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from and to the right of that identified k+1^th line left edge region, and when the distance from the left edge region of one of lines 1 through k to one of said right edge regions is less than the D_L data previously stored for that line, replace said D_L data previously stored for that line with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance and the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identifying as a left edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a left edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediatedly previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

C. extracting right edge necks as the k+1^th line is scanned for each identified right edge region in said k+1^th scan line, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for the k+1^th line representative of the minimum of the distance D_R in said image between that identified k+1^th right edge region and the next identified left edge region along said k+1^th scan line in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distances between that identified k+1^th line right edge region and all left edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_R from that identified k+1^th right edge region, and further representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

ii. determining the distance in said image between each right edge region identified in scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, less than D_R from and to the left of that identified k+1^th line right edge region, and all left edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k+1 represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from and to the left of that identified k+1^th line right edge region, and when the distance from the right edge region of one of lines 1 through k to one of said left edge regions is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line with replacement of D_R data representative of said lesser distance and the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identifying as a right edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a right edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

D. extracting bottom edge necks as the k+1^th line is scanned for each identified bottom edge in said k+1^th scan line, by;

i. determining and temporarily storing data for the k+1^th representative of the distance D_B in said image between that identified k+1^th line bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

ii. determining and temporarily storing data for the k+1^th line representative of the distance D_P in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified k+1^th line bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iii. determining and temporarily storing data for the k+1^th line representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified k+1^th line bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iv. identifying as a bottom edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from that identified bottom edge in the k+1^th scan line by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

22. The method according to claim 17 comprising the further step of:

identifying segmentation features as a current line is scanned for each identified edge by identifying a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein said segmentation feature identifying step includes the substeps of:

A. identifying in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment, and

B. identifying in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein substep B of claim 23 includes the further substeps of determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and determining the differnce between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity,

ii. concave segmwent when the difference in orientation is a second polarity, and

iii. straight line segment when the difference in orientation is zero.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein said substep of identifying said current line primitive segment includes the further substep of identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

26. The method according to claim 23 wherein substep B of claim 23 includes the further substeps of determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and identifying said current line primitive segment as a straight line segment.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said substep of identifying said current line primitive segment includes the further substep of identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

28. The method according to claim 23 wherein substep B of claim 23 includes the further substeps of determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity or zero, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said substep of identifying said current line primitive segment includes the further substep of identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

30. The method according to claim 23 wherein substep B of claim 23 includes the further substeps of determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in polarity is a first polarity, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in polarity is a second polarity or zero.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said substep of identifying said current line primitive segment includes the further substep of identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

32. Method for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising the steps of:

scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detecting the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, and generating scan signals representative thereof,

processing said scan signals to identify said features of said objects as said image is scanned during said single pass,

wherein said feature identifying step includes the stp of identifying neck features in said objects during said single scan.

33. Method for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising the steps of:

scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detecting the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, and generating scan signals represenatative thereof,

processing said scan signals to identify said features of said objects as said image is scanned during said single pass,

whereihn said feature identifying step includes the step of identifying segmentation features during said single scan.

34. Method for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising the steps of:

scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan.

detecting the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, and generating scan signals representative thereof,

processing said scan signals to identify said features of said objects as said image is scanned during said single pass,

wherein said feature identifying step comprises the further step of;

C. storing current scan line data, said current scan line data being representative of the detected values of said characteristic for the succession of contiguous regions of a current line being scanned, and storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data being representative of the detected values of said characteristic for the succession of contiguous regions of the next previously scanned line.

35. Method for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising the steps of:

scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detecting the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, and generating scan signal representative thereof,

processing said scan signals to identify said features of said objects as said image is scanned during said single pass.

wherein said feature identifying step comprises;

A. identifying left edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and concurrently generating a left edge signal for each identified left edge, said left edge signal being representative of the position of said identified left edge along said current scan line,

identifying right edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and concurrently generating a right edge signal for each identified right edge, said right edge signal being representative of the position of said identified right edge in said current scan line,

C. storing current scan line data, said current scan line data including left and right edge signals generated as a current line is scanned, and storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data including left and right edge signals generating during the scan of the next previous line.

36. Method according to claim 35 wherein said feature identifying step comprises the steps of:

D. identifying objects by comparing each stored left and right edge signal of said current scan line data with said left and right edge signals of said stored previous scan line data, and including the steps of;

i. identifying a new object in said current scan line,

ii. identifying an object left boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to the current scan line,

iii. identifying an object right boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to said current scan line,

iv. identifying an object which has terminated between said next previous and said current scan lines,

v. identifying an object which has merged with another object between said next previous and current scan lines.

37. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a two dimensional image, said objects having boundaries and being characterized within said boundaries by a value of a detectable characteristic in a first predetermined range, and said background being characterized by a value of said characteristic in a second predetermined range, comprising:

A. means to scan said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines,

B. means to detect and identify edges of objects intercepted by said scan,

C. segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

38. The system according to claim 37 wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes:

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

39. The system according to claim 38 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity,

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity, and

iii. straight line segment when the difference in orientation is zero.

40. The system according to claim 39 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

41. The system according to claim 38 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bouned by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a straight line segment.

42. The system according to claim 41 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

43. The system according to claim 38 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity or zero, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

45. The system according to claim 38 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in polarity is a first polarity, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in polarity is a second polarity or zero.

46. The system according to claim 45 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

47. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising:

A. means to scan said array along said rows in a single pass, and to detect and identify edges of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image, and

B. segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

48. The system according to claim 47 wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes:

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

49. The system according to claim 48 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity,

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity, and

iii. straight line segment when the difference in orientation is zero.

50. The system according to claim 49 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

51. The system according to claim 48 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a straight line segment.

52. The system according to claim 51 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

53. The system according to claim 48 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity or zero, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity.

54. The system according to claim 53 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

55. The system according to claim 48 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in polarity is a first polarity, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in polarity is a second polarity or zero.

56. The system according to claim 55 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

57. System for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising:

A. scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan.

B. detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines,

C. left edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify left edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and to concurrently generate a left edge signal for each identified left edge, said left edge signal being representative of the position of said identified left edge along said current scan line,

D. right edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify right edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and to concurrently generate a right edge signal for each identified right edge, said right edge signal being representative of the position of said identified right edge in said current scan line,

E. memory means for storing current scan line data, said current scan line data including left and right edge signals generated as a current line is scanned, and for storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data including left and right edge signals generated during the scan of the next previous line,

F. object identification means operative in conjunction with said memory means to compare each stored left and right edge signal of said current scan line data with said left and right edge signals of said stored previous scan line data, and including;

i. means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

ii. means to identify an object left boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to the current scan line,

iii. means to identify an object right boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to said current scan line,

iv. means to identify an object which has terminated between said next previous and said current scan lines,

v. means to identify an object which has merged with another object between said next previous and current scan lines.

58. The system according to claim 57 further comprising:

a boundary identification means for identifying the left, right, top and bottom edges defining at least one identified object in a current scan line as that line is scanned, and for generating corresponding update edge point data and associated update line data, said update edge point data including;

A. left edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line identified as left edges of said identified object,

B. right edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line identified as right edges of said identified object,

C. top edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line including top edges of said identified object,

D. bottom edge data words representative of the position of regions in current scan line including bottom edges of said identified object,

E. a line data word representative of the relative position of said current scan line among said succession of scan lines for each of said left edge, right edge, top edge, and bottom edge data words.

59. The system according to claim 58 further comprising:

A. projection data means for generating current top view edge point data and current top view line data for at least one identified object in said current scan line as that line is scanned, said current top view data edge point data and current top view line data being representative of said update edge point data and update line data for the regions of said current scan line represented by said update data and being the same as the top view edge point data and top view line data of the next previous scan line for the remaining regions of said current scan line.

60. The system according to claim 59 further comprising:

neck feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned to identify the position of internal neck features in said image for portions of said one identified object scanned by the previous lines of scan, including;

B. left edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for the identified left edge of said one identified object in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between said identified left edge and the next identifed right edge along said current scan line in said predetermined direction, and the distances between said identified left edge and all right edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_L from said identified left edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each left edge identified in said previously scanned lines represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from and to the right of said identified left edge, and all right edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from, and to the right of said identified left edge, and when the distance from the left edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said right edges is less than the D_L data previously stored for that line, replace said D_L data previously stored for that line with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance, and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a left edge neck the portion of said one identified object defined from a left edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

C. right edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for the identified right edge of said one identified object in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_R, in said image between said identified right edge and the next identified left edge along said current scan line in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distance between said identified right edge and all left edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_R from said identified right edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each right edge identified in said previously scanned lines, represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and all left edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and when the distance from the right edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said left edges is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line, replace said D_R data previously stored for that line with replacement D_R data representative of said lesser distance and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a right edge neck the portion of said one identified object defined from a right edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

D. bottom edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for the identified bottom edge of said one identified object in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_B in said image between said identified bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

ii. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_P in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iii. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iv. identify as a bottom edge neck the portion of said one identified object defined from that identified bottom edge in said current scan line by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

61. The system according to claim 57 further comprising:

segmentation features identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

62. The system according to claim 61 wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes:

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identiy the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

63. System for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising:

scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, feature extraction means operative as said image is scanned to identify said features of said objects during said single pass,

wherein said feature extraction means includes means to identify neck features in said objects during said single scan.

64. System for extracting features of one or more objects in a two diemnsional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising:

scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines,

feature extraction means operative as said image is scanned to identify said features of said objects during said single pass,

wherein said feature extraction means includes means to identify segmentation features during said single scan.

65. System for extracting features of one or more objects in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising:

scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines,

feature extraction means operative as said image is scanned to identify said features of said objects during said single pass,

wherein said feature extraction means further comprises;

C. memory means for storing current scan line data, said current scan line data being representative of the detected values of said characteristic for the succession of contiguous regions of a current scan line being scanned, and for storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data being representative of the detected values of said characteristic for the succession of contiguous regions of the next previous scanned line.

66. System for extracting features of one or more objects in a two diemnsional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in one of r predetermined ranges, where r is an integer, comprising:

scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of a succession of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines,

feature extraction means operative as said image is scanned to identify said features of said objects during said single pass,

wherein said feature extraction means comprises;

A. left edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify left edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and to concurrently generate a left edge signal for each identified left edge, said left edge signal being representative of the position of said identified left edge along said current scan line,

B. right edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify right edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and to concurrently generate a right edge signal for each identified right edge, said right edge signal being representative of the position of said identified right edge in said current scan line,

C. memory means for storing current scan line data, said current scan line data including left and right edge signals generated as a current line is scanned, and for storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data including left and right edge signals generated during the scan of the next previous line.

67. System according to claim 66 wherein said feature extraction means further comprises:

D. object identification means operative in conjunction with said memory means to compare each stored left and right edge signal of said current scan line data with said left and right edge signals of said stored previous scan line data, and including;

i. means to idenfity a new object in said current scan line,

ii. means to identify an object left boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to the current scan line,

iii. means to identify an object right boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to said current scan line,

iv. means to identify an object which has terminated between said next previous and said current scan lines,

v. means to identify an object which has merged with another object between said next previous and current scan lines.

68. system for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a two dimensional image, each of said objects having a boundary and being characterized within said boundary by a value of a detectable characteristic in a first predetermined range, and said background being characterized by a value of said characteristic in a second predetermined range, comrpising:

A. scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines of scan,

B. detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of a successon of contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines,

C. left edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify left edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and to concurrently generate a left edge signal for each identified left edge, said left edge signal being representative of the position of said identified left edge along said current scan line,

D. right edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify right edges of objects in each scan line as said lines are scanned, and to concurrently generate a right edge signal for each identified right edge, said right edge signal being representative of the position of said identified right edge in said current scan line,

E. memory means for storing current scan line data, said current scan line data including left and right edge signals generated as a current line is scanned, and for storing previous scan line data, said previous scan line data including left and right edge signals generated during the scan of the next previous line,

F. object identification means operative in conjunction with said memory means to compare each stored left and right edge signal of said current scan line data with said left and right edge signals of said stored previous scan line data, and including;

i. means to identify a new body object in said current scan line,

ii. means to identify a new hole object in said current scan line,

iii. means to identify an object left boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to the current scan line,

iv. means to identify an object right boundary which continues from said next previous scan line to said current scan line,

v. means to identify a body object which has terminated between said next previous and said current scan lines,

vi. means to identify a hole object which has terminated between said next previous and current scan lines,

vii. means to idenfity an object which has merged with another object between said next previous and current scan lines.

69. The system according to claim 68 wherein said object identification means further includes:

i. means to generate and store an object signal in said memory in association with each left and right edge signal of said current scan line data,

ii. means to generate a unique object number signal for each new identified new body object and to store said object number signal in said memory in association with the left and right edge signals representative of the respective edges of said new body object,

iii. means to generate a unique object number signal for each identified new hole object and to store said object number signal in said memory in association with the right and left edge signals representative of the respective edges of said new hole object,

iv. means to generate the same object number signal stored in association with the corresponding left edge signal from said next previous scan line for each identified continued object left boundary and to store said same object number signal in said memory in association with the left edge signal from said current scan line,

v. means to generate the same object number signal stored in association with the corresponding right edge signal from said next previous scan line for each identified continued object right boundary and to store said same object number signal in said memory in association with the right edge signal from said current scan line.

70. The system according to claim 68 wherein said system further comprises:

G. object tabulation means including means to generate and store type, status, and parent data for each identified object at a location in said memory associated with said object, and including means to update said stored type, parent and status data at least once per scan line, said tabulation means including;

i. means to generate said type data in response to the identification of a new object in the current scan line, said type data being representative of a first type when said new object is a body object and of a second type when said new object is a hole object.

ii. means to generate said status data, said status data being representative of;

a. continuation status when continued left and right boundaries of said object are identified in said current scan line,

b. termination status when said object is identified to be a terminated body or hole object in the current scan line,

c. merge status when said object is identified in the current scan line to be a merged object,

iii. means to generate said parent data for an identified new object in response to the identification of said new object in the current scan line, said parent data being representative of the object number of the next previous object currently having only a single edge signal identified when said new body is identified, and

iv. means to update said parent data for two objects identified as merged objects in current scan line, said updated parent data being representative of the object number of a predetermined one of said merged objects.

71. The system according to claim 68 further comprising:

a boundary identification means for identifying the left, right, top and bottom edges defining each identified body object in a current scan line as that line is scanned, and for generating corresponding update edge point data and associated update line data, said update edge point data including;

A. left edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line identified as left edges of said identified body object,

B. right edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line identified as right edges of said identified body object,

C. top edge data words representative of the position of regions in said current scan line including top edges of said identified body object,

D. bottom edge data words representative of the position of regions in current scan line including bottom edges of said identified body object,

E. a line data word representative of the relative position of said current scan line among said succession of scan lines for each of said left edge, right edge, top edge, and bottom edge data words.

72. The system according to claim 71 further comprising:

A. projection data means for generating current top view edge point data and current top view line data for each identified body object in said current scan line as that line is scanned, said current top view data edge point data and current top view line data being representative of said update edge point data and update line data for the regions of said current scan line represented by said update data and being the same as the top view edge point data and top view line data of the next previous scan line for the remaining regions of said current scan line.

73. The system according to claim 72 further comprising:

neck feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned to identify the position of internal neck features in said image for portions of each identified body object scanned by the previous lines of scan, including;

B. left edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for each identified left edge in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between said identified left edge and the next identified right edge along said current scan line in said predetermined direction, and the distances between said identified left edge and all right edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_L from said identified left edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each left edge identified in said previously scanned lines represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from and to the right of said identified left edge, and all right edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from, and to the right of said identified left edge, and when the distance from the left edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said right edges is less than the D_L data previously stored for that line, replace said D_L data previously stored for that line with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance, and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a left edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a left edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

C. right edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for each identified right edge in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_R, in said image between said identified right edge and the next identified left edge along said current scan line in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distance between said identified right edge and all left edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_R from said identified right edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each right edge identified in said previously scanned lines, represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and all left edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and when the distance from the right edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said left edges is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line, replace said D_R data previously stored for that line with replacement D_R data representative of said lesser distance and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a right edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a right edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan lines

D. bottom edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for each identified bottom edge in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_B in said image between said identified bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view edges point and top view line data,

ii. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_p in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iii. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iv. identify as a bottom edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from that identified bottom edge in said current scan line by the distance D_B when said D_p data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

74. The system according to claim 76 further comprising:

body object area determining means operative as a current line is scanned to determine the number of regions between identified left and right edges for a body object in said current scan line, and to maintain a cumulative count from line to line of said numbers for the first through the current scan lines, said cumulative count being representative of the area, A, of the portion of said identified body object covered by those scan lines.

75. The system according to claim 71 further comprising:

body object perimeter determining means operative as a current line is scanned for maintaining a cumulative count from line to line of said identified left edges, right edges, top edges and bottom edges for an identified body object, said cumulative count being representative of the perimeter, P, of the portion of said identified body object covered by the first through the current scan lines.

76. The system according to claim 71 further comprising:

body object area determining means operative as a current line is scanned to determine the number of regions between identified left and right edges for a body object in said current scan line, and to maintain a cumulative count from line to line of said numbers for the first through the current scan lines, said cumulative count being representative of the area, A, of the portion of said identified body object covered by those scan lines.

77. The system according to claim 76 further comprising means to generate a signal representative of the ratio P² /A.

78. The system according to claim 71 further comprising:

body object X-moment determining means operative as a current line is scanned for generating an incremental X-moment signal for an identified body object representative of the difference between the square of the position of the left edge of said body object in said current scan line and the square of the position of the right edge of said body object in said current scan line, and for maintaining a cumulative X-moment signal proportional to the sum of said incremental X-moment signals, said cumulative X-moment signal being representative of the first moment in the direction of the scan lines of the portion of said identified body object covered by the first through the current scan lines.

79. The system according to claim 71 further comprising:

body object Y-moment determining means operative as a current line is scanned for generating an incremental Y-moment signal for an identified body object representative of the product of the distance between said current and the first scan lines and the difference in position of the left and right edges of said body in said current scan line, and for maintaining a cumulative Y-moment signal proportional to the sum of said incremental Y-moment signals, said cumulative Y-moment signal being representative of the first moment in the direction perpendicular to the direction of said scan lines of the portion of said identified body object covered by the first through the current scan lines.

80. The system according to claim 68 further comprising:

segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

81. The system according to claim 80 wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes:

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

82. The system according to claim 81 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity,

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity, and

iii. straight line segment when the difference in orientation is zero.

83. The system according to claim 82 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

84. The system according to claim 81 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a straight line segment.

85. The system according to claim 84 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

86. The system according to claim 81 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity or zero, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity.

87. The system according to claim 86 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

88. The system according to claim 81 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in polarity is a first polarity, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in polarity is a second polarity or zero.

89. The system according to claim 88 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

90. System for extracting features of one or more body objects against a background in a two dimensional image, said body objects having boundaries and being characterized within said boundaries by a value of a detectable characteristic in a first predetermined range, and said background being characterized by a value of said characteristic in a second predetermined range, and said image having a border characterized by a value of said characteristic in said first range, comprising:

A. scanning means for scanning said image in a single pass along a succession of N substantially parallel lines of scan, where N is an integer,

B. detection means operative in conjunction with said scanning means to detect the value of said characteristic of M contiguous regions of said image along each of said scan lines, where M is an integer,

C. left edge identification means responsive to said detection means to identify left edge regions in each scan line as said lines are scanned, each of said left edge regions being the first region along said scan line which is characterized by a value of said characteristic in said first range and which follows a region characterized by a value of said characteristic in said second range, and to concurrently generate a left edge signal X_L.sbsb.i (k) for each identified left edge region, said left edge signal being representative of the scan line k currently being scanned and in which said left edge region is identified, where k is an integer and 1≦

k≦

N, and being further representative of the displacement X_L from the left boundary of said image and the sequential position i of said left edge region along said current scan line, where i is an integer and 1≦

i≦

M/2,

D. right edge is identification means responsive to said detection means to identify right edge regions in each scan line as said lines are scanned, each of said right edge regions being the first region along said scan line which is characterized by a value of said characteristic in said second range, and which follows a region characterized by a value of said characteristic in said first range, and to concurrently generate a right edge signal X_R.sbsb.i (k) for each identified right edge region, said right edge signal being representative of the scan line k currently being scanned and in which said right edge region is identified, and being further representative of the displacement X_R from the left edge of said image and the sequential position i of said pair in said current scan line,

E. memory means for storing as generated said current (k^th) line left and right edge signals, X_L.sbsb.1 (k), X_L.sbsb.2 (k), . . ., X_L.sbsb.i (k), . . . and X_R.sbsb.1 (k), X_R.sbsb.2 (k), . . ., X_R.sbsb.i (k), . . ., and means operative following the detection of the Mth region in said k^th scan line for storing said k^th line left and right edge signals as the next previous (k-1^th) line left and right edge signals, X_L.sbsb.1 (k-1), X_L.sbsb.2 (k-1), . . ., X_L.sbsb.j (k-1), . . ., and X_R.sbsb.1 (k-1), X_R.sbsb.2 (k-1), . . ., X_R.sbsb.j (k-1), . . ., where j is an integer and is representative of the sequential position of one of said edge signals in said k-1^th line, and 1≦

j≦

M/2,

F. object identification means operative as said k^th line is scanned and in conjunction with said memory means to compare each stored k^th line left and right edge signal with said stored k-1^th line left and right edge signals, and to generate and store an object number signal in said memory in association with each k^th line left and right edge signal, including;

i. means to identify a new body object having a left boundary at X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.i+1 (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1)

unless

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.i-1 (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1),

and a right boundary at X_R.sbsb.i+1 (k), and further including means to generate a unique object number signal for each identified new body object and to store said object number signal in said memory in association with X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) and X_R.sbsb.i+1 (k),

ii. means to identify a new hole object having a left boundary at X_R.sbsb.i (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1),

unless

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1),

and a right boundary at X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k), and further including means to generate a unique object number signal for each identified new hole object and means to store said object number signal in said memory in association with X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) and X_R.sbsb.i (k),

iii. means to identify an object boundary which continues from X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) to X_L.sbsb.i (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.i-1 (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)

and means to generate the same object number signal stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) for each identified continued object left boundary and means to store said same object number signal in said memory in association with X_L.sbsb.i (k),

iv. means to identify an object boundary which continues from X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) to X_R.sbsb.i (k) when

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1)

and means to generate the same object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) for each identified continued object right boundary and means to store said same object number signal in said memory in association with X_R.sbsb.i (k),

v. means to identify a terminated body object when an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) and X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) are identical,

vi. means to identify a terminated hole object when an object boundary at X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) and X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) are identical,

vii. means to identify merged body objects when an object boundary at X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) and X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) are representative of different body objects,

viii. means to identify merged hole objects when an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) and X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) are representative of different hole objects,

ix. means to identify a hole object which merges with a body object when;

a. an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i+1 (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j+i (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i+1 (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is representative of a hole object and the object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is representative of a body object, or

b. an object boundary at X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_L.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.R.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.L.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k-1) is representative of a body object and the object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) is representative of a hole object,

x. means to identify a body object which merges with a hole object when;

a. an object left boundary at X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signal stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j (k-1) is representative of a body object and the object number signal stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j+1 (k-1) is representative of a hole object, or

b. an object boundary at X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is not continued at X_R.sbsb.i (k) and

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">X.sub.L.sbsb.j (k-1)<

X.sub.R.sbsb.i (k)

and the object number signals stored in association with X_R.sbsb.j-1 (k-1) is representative of a hole object and the object number signal stored in association with X_L.sbsb.j (k) is representative of a body object.

91. The system according to claim 90 wherein said system further comprises:

G. object tabulation means including means to generate and store type, status, and parent data for each identified object at a location in said memory associated with said object, and including means to update said stored type, parent and status data at least once per scan line, said tabulation means including;

i. means to generate said type data in response to the identification of a new object in the k^th scan line, said type data being representative of a first type when said new object is a body object and of a second type when said new object is a hole object,

ii. means to generate said status data, said status data being representative of;

a. continuation status when continued left and right boundaries of said object are identified in said k^th scan line,

b. termination status when said object is identified to be a terminated body or hole object in the k^th scan line,

c. merge status when said object is identified in the k^th scan line to be a body or hole object with which a body or hole object has merged,

iii. means to generate said parent data for an identified new object in response to the identification of said new object in the k^th scan line, said parent data being representative of the object number of the next previous object currently having only a single edge signal identified when said new body is identified, and

iv. means to update said parent data for two objects identified as merged objects in the k^th scan line, said updated parent data being representative of the object number of a predetermined one of said merged objects.

92. The system according to claim 90 further comprising:

a boundary identification means for identifying the left, right, top and bottom edges defining each identified body object in said k^th scan line as said k^th line is scanned, and for generating corresponding update edge point data and associated update line data, said update edge point data including;

A. left edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of an identified left edge region, and

ii. the position of each region in said k^th scan line between an identified left edge region and the region in said k^th scan line corresponding to an identified left edge region on an identified boundary continuing from said k-1^th scan line to said identified left edge region,

B. right edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of an identified right edge region, and

ii. the position of each region in said k^th scan line between an identified right edge region and the region in said k^th scan line corresponding to an identified right edge region on an identified boundary continuing from said k-1^th scan line to said identified right edge region,

C. top edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between the identified left and right edge regions in said k.sup. th scan line associated with a body object identified as a new body object in said k^th scan line, and

ii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between regions in said k^th scan line corresponding to the identified right and left edge regions in said k-1^th scan line associated with a hole object identified as terminated in said k^th scan line,

iii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between regions in said k^th scan line corresponding to successive identified right edge and left edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said right edge and left edge regions are associated with body objects identified as merged in said k^th scan line,

D. bottom edge data words representative of;

i. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between regions in said k^th scan line corresponding to identified left edge and right edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said left and right edge regions are associated with a body object identified as terminated in said k^th scan line,

ii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region between the identified right and left edge regions in said k^th scan line associated with a hole object identified as a new hole object in said k^th scan line,

iii. the position in said k^th scan line of each region in said k^th scan line corresponding to successive identified left edge and right edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said left and right edge regions are associated with hole objects identified as merged in said k^th scan line,

iv. the position in said k^th scan line of each region in said k^th scan line corresponding to successive identified left edge and right edge regions in said k-1^th scan line when said left and right edge regions are associated with hole and body objects identified as merged in said k^th scan line,

E. a line data word representative of the identity of said k^th scan line for each of said left edge, right edge, top edge, and bottom edge data words.

93. The system according to claim 92 further comprising:

A. projection data means for generating and storing current top view edge point and current top view line data for each identified body object in said k^th scan line as said k^th line is scanned, current top view edge point and top view line data being representative of;

i. said generated update edge point and update line data for regions of said k^th scan line for which said update edge point data is generated

ii. the same edge point and line data in said top view line data for said k-1^th scan line for the remaining regions of said k^th scan line.

94. The system according to claim 93 further comprising:

neck feature identifying means operative as the k+1^th line is scanned to identify the position of internal nech features in said image for portions of an identified body object scanned by the first k of said lines of scan, including;

B. left edge neck extraction means, operative as the k+1^th line is scanned for each identified left edge region in said k+1^th scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the k+1^th line representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L in said image between that identified k+1^th line left edge region and the next identified right edge region along said k+1^th scan line in said predetermined direction, and the distances between that identified k+1^th left edge region and all right edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_L from that identified k+1^th line left edge region, and further representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each left edge region identified in scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, less than D_L from and to the right of that identified k+1^th line left edge region, and all right edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k+1 represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_L from and to the right of that identified k+1^th line left edge region, and when the distance from the left edge region of one of lines 1 through k to one of said right edge regions is less than the D_L data previously stored for that line, replace said D_L data previously stored for that line with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance and the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a left edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a left edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

C. right edge neck extraction means, operative as the k+1^th line is scanned for each identified right edge region in said k+1^th scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the k+1^th line representative of the minimum of the distance D_R in said image between that identified k+1^th right edge region and the next identified left edge region along said k+1^th scan line in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distances between that identified k+1^th line right edge region and all left edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k which are represented in said top view edge point and top view line data and are less than D_R from that identified k+1^th right edge region, and further representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each right edge region identified in scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, less than D_R from and to the left of that identified k+1^th line right edge region, and all left edge regions identified in scan lines 1 through k+1 represented in said top view edge point and top view line data, and less than D_R from and to the left of that identified k+1.sup. th line right edge region, and when the distance from the right edge region of one of lines 1 through k to one of said left edge regions is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line with replacement of D_R data representative of said lesser distance and the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a right edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a right edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

D. bottom edge neck extraction means, operative as the k+1^th line is scanned for each identified bottom edge in said k+1^th scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the k+1^th line representative of the distance D_B in said image between that identified k+1^th line bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same posiion along one of scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

ii. determine and temporarily store data for the k+1^th line representative of the distance D_p in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified k+1^th line bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iii. determine and temporarily store data for the k+1^th line representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified k+^th line bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said scan lines 1 through k and represented in said top view edge point and top view line data,

iv. identify as a bottom edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from that identified bottom edge in the k+1^th scan line by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

95. The system according to claim 90 further comprising:

segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment.

96. The system according to claim 95 wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes:

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment.

97. The system according to claim 96 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity,

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity, and

iii. straight line segment when the difference in orientation is zero.

98. The system according to claim 97 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment including means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

99. The system according to claim 96 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a straight line segment.

100. The system according to claim 99 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

101. The system according to claim 96 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity or zero, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity.

102. The system according to claim 101 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

103. The system according to claim 96 wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a:

i. convex segment when the difference in polarity is a first polarity, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in polarity is a second polarity or zero.

104. The system according to claim 103 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

105. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a two dimensional image, said objects having boundaries and being characterized within said boundaries by a value of a detectable characteristic in a first predetermined range, and said background being characterized by a value of said characteristic in a second predetermined range, comprising:

A. means to scan said image in a single pass along a succession of substantially parallel lines,

B. means to detect and identify boundaries of objects intercepted by said scan,

C. means to generate and store boundary data for each of the two most recent lines of scan, said boundary data including;

data representative of the position and type of edges of objects intercepted by said scan in said two most recent lines, said type being left, right, top or bottom,

D. means to generate, and to update during each scan, top view data from said boundary data, said top view data being representative of the position in said image and type of the left, right, top or bottom edge of an object which is nearest to the current point of scan and which is located at the same point along a previous scan line as the current point of scan.

106. The system according to claim 105 further comprising:

E. left edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for each identified left edge in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between said identified left edge and the next identified right edge along said current scan line in said predetermined direction, and the distances between said identified left edge and all right edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view data and are less than D_L from said identified left edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each left edge identified in said previously scanned lines represented in said top view data, and less than D_L from and to the right of said identified left edge, and all right edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view data, and less than D_L from, and to the right of said identified left edge, and when the distance from the left edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said right edges is less than the D_L data previously stored for that line, replace said D_L data previously stored for that line with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance, and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a left edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a left edge in a scan line by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

F. right edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for each identified right edge in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for the current line which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_R, in said image between said identified right edge and the next identified left edge along said current scan line in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distance between said identified right edge and all left edges identified in the previously scanned lines which are represented in said top view data and are less than D_R from said identified right edge, and which is further representative of the position of the end points which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each right edge identified in said previouly scanned lines, represented in said top view data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and all left edges identified through the current scan line represented in said top view data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and when the distance from the right edge of one of said previously scanned lines to one of said left edges is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line, replace said D_R data previously stored for that line with replacement D_R data representative of said lesser distance and representative of the position of the end points which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a right edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a right edge in an identified scan line by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for scan lines immediately previous to and including said identified scan line, and monotonically increased for scan lines immediately following said identified scan line,

G. bottom edge neck extraction means, operative as a current line is scanned for each identified bottom edge in said current scan line, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_B in said image between said identified bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines and represented in said top view data,

ii. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_P in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view data,

iii. determine and temporarily store data for said current line representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previously scanned lines, and represented in said top view data,

iv. identify as a bottom edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from that identified bottom edge in said current scan line by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said idenified bottom edge.

107. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising:

A. means to detect and identify boundaries of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image,

B. means to generate and store boundary data for each of the most recent pairs of rows in said succession, said boundary data including;

data representative of the position and type of edges of objects intercepted by said two most recent rows, said type being left, right, top, or bottom,

C. means to generate, and to update for each pair of rows, top view data from said boundary data, said top view data being representative of the cell position in said image and type of the left, right, top or bottom edge of an object which is both nearest to the respective cells in the most recent row of said succession and which is located at the same point along a previous row as the respective cells.

108. The system according to claim 107 further comprising:

D. left edge neck extraction means, responsive to the generated top view data for each pair of rows, and for each identified left edge in said most recent row, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for said most recent row which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_L, in said image between said identified left edge and the next identified right edge along said most recent row in said predetermined direction, and the distances between said identified left edge and all right edges identified in the previously scanned line which are represented in said top view data and are less than D_L from said identified left edge, and which is further representative of the position of the cells which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each left edge identified in the previous rows represented in said top view data, and less than D_L from and to the right of said identified left edge, and all right edges identified through said most recent row represented in said top view data, and less than DL from, and to the right of said identified left edge, and when the distance from the left edge of one of said previous rows to one of said right edges is less than the D_L data previously stored for that row, replace said D_L data previously stored for that row with replacement D_L data representative of said lesser distance, and representative of the position of the cells which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a left edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a left edge in an identified row by the distance D_L when said D_L data monotonically decreased for rows immediately previous to an including said identified row, and monotonically increased for rows immediately following said identified row,

F. right edge neck extraction means, responsive to the generated top view data for each pair of rows, and for each identified right edge in said most recent row, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for said most recent row which is representative of the minimum of the distance, D_R, in said image between said identified right edge and the next identified left edge along said most recent row in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and the distance between said identified right edge and all left edges identified in the previous rows which are represented in said top view data and are less than D_R from said identified right edge, and which is further representative of the position of the cells which bound that minimum distance,

ii. determine the distance in said image between each right edge identified in said previous rows, represented in said top view data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and all left edges identified through said most recent row represented in said top view data, and less than D_R from, and to the left of said identified right edge, and when the distance from the right edge of one of said previous rows to one of said left edges is less than the D_R data previously stored for that line, replace said D_R data previously stored for that row with replacement D_R data representative of said lesser distance and representative of the position of the cells which bound that distance,

iii. identify as a right edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from a right edge in an identified row by the distance D_R when said D_R data monotonically decreased for rows immediately previous to and including said identified row, and monotonically increased for rows immediately following said identified row,

G. bottom edge neck extraction means, responsive to the generated top view data for each pair of rows, and for each identified bottom edge in said most recent row, to;

i. determine and temporarily store data for said most recent row representative of the distance D_B in said image between said identified bottom edge and a top edge identified at the same position along one of said previous rows and represented in said top view data,

ii. determine and temporarily store data for said most recent row representative of the distance D_P in said image between an edge immediately preceding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previous rows, and represented in said top view data,

iii. determine and temporarily store data for said most recent row representative of the distance D_S in said image between an edge immediately succeeding said identified bottom edge and an edge identified at the same position along one of said previous rows, and represented in said top view data, and

iv. identify as a bottom edge neck the portion of an identified body defined from that identified bottom edge in said most recent row by the distance D_B when said D_P data monotonically decreased for identified edges immediately previous to and including said identified bottom edge, and said D_S data monotonically increased for identified edges immediately following said identified bottom edge.

109. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising:

A. means to detect and identify edges of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image, and

B. segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment,

wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes;

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment,

wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said parviously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a;

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity, and

iii. straight line segment when the difference in orientation is zero.

110. The system according to claim 109 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

111. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising:

A. means to detect and identify edges of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image, and

B. segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment,

wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes;

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment,

wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the cprresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a straight line segment.

112. The system according to claim 111 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

113. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said background being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising:

A. means to detect and identify edges of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image, and

B. segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned by each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment,

wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes;

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment,

wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a;

i. convex segment when the difference in orientation is a first polarity or zero, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in orientation is a second polarity.

114. The system according to claim 113 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.

115. System for extracting features of one or more objects against a background in a digitized image forming a multiple cell array having M rows and N columns, said objects having boundaries and being characterized by cells of a first binary state, and said backgound being characterized by cells of a second binary state, comprising:

A. means to detect and identify edges of objects in a succession of contiguous pairs of adjacent rows of said image, and

B. segmentation feature identifying means operative as a current line is scanned for each identified edge to identify a portion of the boundary of the object associated with that identified edge as a primitive segment,

wherein said segmentation feature identifying means includes;

means to identify a new object in said current scan line,

first means operative in a current scan line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object boundary in said current line as a directed reference segment,

second means operative in a current scan line following said line in which a new object is identified, to identify the portion of said new object which continues to said identified edge in said current line from a previously identified edge in the next previous line as a directed primitive segment,

wherein said second means includes means operative in a current scan line for determining the angular orientation of a current line directed primitive segment extending between said identified edge in said current line and said previously identified edge with respect to said reference segment, and means for determining the difference between said angular orientation of said current line primitive segment and the corresponding angular orientation of the directed primitive segment of the next previous line which is bounded by said previously identified edge, and means for identifying said current line primitive segment as a;

i. convex segment when the difference in polarity is a first polarity, and

ii. concave segment when the difference in polarity is a second polarity or zero.

116. The system according to claim 115 wherein said means for identifying said current line primitive segment includes means for identifying a current segment as a continued portion of a previously identified segment when said difference in orientation determined for said current line is the same polarity as the corresponding difference in orientation determined for the next previous line.