Methods and apparatus for machine vision template matching of images predominantly having generally diagonal and elongate features
First Claim
1. In a machine vision apparatus of the type havingmatch scoring means, responsive to a plurality of pairs of applied image signals, for generating a plurality of score signals as a selected function of said plurality of pairs of applied image signals,the improvement for estimating a location of a template in a candidate image, comprising:
- segment peak finding means, coupled to said match-scoring means, for applying thereto said plurality of pairs of image signals along a "segment," each such pair including a signal representative of said template and a signal representative of a respective successive portion of said candidate image along a first axis,said segment peak finding means including means for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the score signals generated by said match-scoring means in connection with application of the plurality of pairs of image signals comprising said segment, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as a segment peak,a store of best-fit geometric surface characteristics,hill climbing means, coupled to said segment peak finding means, and to said store of geometric surface characteristics, for invoking said segment peak finding means, only if said best-fit geometric surface characteristics satisfy a predetermined condition, to determine the segment peaks of a plurality of segments, each such segment including image signals from different respective portions of said candidate image along a second axis,said hill climbing means including means for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the segment peaks associated with said plurality of segments, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as an image peak, andmeans for estimating a location of said template in said candidate image as a function of a location of said image peak.
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Abstract
A machine vision apparatus of the type having a match-scoring functionality for generating a metric as a function, e.g., a correlation, of applied image signals features an improvement for estimating a location of a template in a candidate image. The improvement is characterized by a segment peak finding element that applies to the match-scoring element a plurality of pairs of image signals along a "segment." Each such pair includes a signal representing the template and a signal representing a respective portion of the candidate image taken along a first axis. Thus, ignoring their template components, plural pairs of signals can represent successive adjacent portions of the candidate image that are "in line" along a first axis. Functionality within the segment peak finder determines a peak value of the metric generated by the match-scoring element in response to application of the pairs within the segment. A hill climbing element invokes the segment peak finder means to determine an image peak from among a plurality of segment peaks. To this end, the hill climber invokes the segment peak finder, e.g., with successive adjacent segments along the y-axis, where each segment itself is oriented, e.g., along the x-axis. The hill climber determines the image peak directly from the segment peaks, or by interpolation or extrapolation therefrom. The location of the template within the candidate image is, itself, determined from the position of the image peak.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a machine vision apparatus of the type having
match scoring means, responsive to a plurality of pairs of applied image signals, for generating a plurality of score signals as a selected function of said plurality of pairs of applied image signals, the improvement for estimating a location of a template in a candidate image, comprising: -
segment peak finding means, coupled to said match-scoring means, for applying thereto said plurality of pairs of image signals along a "segment," each such pair including a signal representative of said template and a signal representative of a respective successive portion of said candidate image along a first axis, said segment peak finding means including means for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the score signals generated by said match-scoring means in connection with application of the plurality of pairs of image signals comprising said segment, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as a segment peak, a store of best-fit geometric surface characteristics, hill climbing means, coupled to said segment peak finding means, and to said store of geometric surface characteristics, for invoking said segment peak finding means, only if said best-fit geometric surface characteristics satisfy a predetermined condition, to determine the segment peaks of a plurality of segments, each such segment including image signals from different respective portions of said candidate image along a second axis, said hill climbing means including means for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the segment peaks associated with said plurality of segments, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as an image peak, and means for estimating a location of said template in said candidate image as a function of a location of said image peak. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a method of operating a machine vision apparatus of the type having
match-scoring means, responsive to a plurality of pairs of applied image signals, for generating a plurality of score signals as a selected function of said plurality of pairs of applied image signals, an improvement for estimating a location of a template in a candidate image, comprising: -
a selectively invocable segment peak finding step for applying to said match-scoring means said plurality of pairs of image signals defining a segment, each such pair including a signal representative of said template and a signal representative of a respective successive portion of said candidate image along a first axis, said segment peak finding step including a step of determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the score signals generated by the match-scoring means in connection with application of the plurality of pairs of image signals comprising said segment, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as a segment peak, storing best-fit geometric surface characteristics, a hill climbing step for invoking said segment peak finding step, only if said best-fit geometric surface characteristics satisfy a predetermined condition, to determine the segment peaks of a plurality of segments, each such segment including image signals from different respective portions of said candidate image along a second axis, said hill climbing step including a step for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the segment peaks associated with said plurality of segments, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as an image peak, and estimating a location of said template in said candidate image as a function of a location of said image peak. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification