Methods and apparatus for centroid based object segmentation in object recognition-type image processing system
First Claim
1. A method of establishing the boundaries of an object in an input image including a plurality of image pixels having gradient values predetermined gray scale, wherein the object includes a centroid, the method, performed by a signal processing system, comprising the steps of:
- deciding on a perimeter surrounding the object in the input image;
repeatedly searching, from an image pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object to image pixels of the perimeter, for an image pixel having a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the searched pixels;
marking, as an edge pixel, the image pixel having the highest gradient value for each of the repeated searches when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
locating and connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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Abstract
A digital signal processing system which uses an input image including a plurality of pixels to establish boundaries of objects in the input image. Each of the pixels has a gradient value and the object includes a centroid. Using a segmentation process, the digital signal processing system decides on a perimeter surrounding the object in the input image and then repeatedly searches for a pixel having the highest gradient value and marks that pixel having the highest gradient value as an edge pixel of the object.
44 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of establishing the boundaries of an object in an input image including a plurality of image pixels having gradient values predetermined gray scale, wherein the object includes a centroid, the method, performed by a signal processing system, comprising the steps of:
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deciding on a perimeter surrounding the object in the input image; repeatedly searching, from an image pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object to image pixels of the perimeter, for an image pixel having a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the searched pixels; marking, as an edge pixel, the image pixel having the highest gradient value for each of the repeated searches when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and locating and connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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2. A method of determining whether a pixel of an input image corresponds to part of an object, wherein the input image includes a plurality of image pixels having gradient values of a predetermined gray scale, wherein the object includes a centroid, the method, performed by a signal processing system, comprising the steps of;
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deciding on a perimeter surrounding the object in the input image; deciding on a minimum object area of the input image around a pixel of the input image corresponding to the centroid; repeatedly searching, along a sweep hand extending from the pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object to the perimeter, for an image pixel having a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the searched pixels; marking, as an edge pixel, the image pixel having the highest gradient value for each of the repeated searches when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold and provided the image pixel is outside the minimum object area; and locating and connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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3. A method of determining whether a pixel of an input image corresponds to part of an object, wherein the input image includes a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a gradient value of a predetermined gray scale, and wherein the object includes a centroid, the method, performed by a signal processing system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the input image and a location of a pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object within the input image; sweeping an imaginary clock hand fixed an the location of the pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object around the input image to locate a pixel underneath each position of the imaginary clock hand that has a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the pixels underneath each position of the imaginary clock hand; marking, as an edge pixel, the pixel having the highest gradient value for each position of the imaginary clock hand when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and locating and connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An image processing system for establishing the boundaries of an object in an input image including a plurality of image pixels having gradient values of a predetermined gray scale, wherein the object includes a centroid, the system comprising:
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means for deciding on a perimeter surrounding the object in the input image; means for repeatedly searching, from an image pixel in the input image corresponding to the centroid of the object to image pixels of the perimeter, for an image pixel having a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the searched pixels; means for marking, as an edge pixel, the image pixel, having the highest gradient value for each of the repeated searches when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and means for locating and for connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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6. An image processing system for determining whether a pixel of an input image corresponds to part of an object, wherein the input image includes a plurality of image pixels, each having a gradient value of a predetermined gray scale, and wherein the object includes a centroid, the system comprising:
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means for deciding on a perimeter surrounding the object in the input image; means for deciding a minimum object area of the input image around a pixel of the image corresponding to the centroid; means for repeatedly searching, along a sweep hand extending from the pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object to the perimeter, for an image pixel having a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the search pixels; means for marking as edge pixel, the image pixel having the highest gradient value for each of the repeated searches when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold and provided that image pixel is outside the minimum object area; and means for locating and for connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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7. An image processing system for determining whether a pixel of an input image corresponds to part of an object, wherein the input image includes a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a gradient value of a predetermined gray scale, and wherein the object includes a centroid, the system comprising:
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receiving means for receiving the input image and a location of a pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object within the input image; sweeping means for sweeping an imaginary clock hand fixed at the location of the pixel corresponding to the centroid of the object around the input image to locate a pixel underneath each position of the imaginary clock hand that has a highest gradient value of the gradient values of the pixels underneath each position of the imaginary clock hand; means for marking, as an edge pixel, the pixel having the highest gradient value for each position of the imaginary clock hand when said highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and means for locating and for connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of establishing a perimeter of an object in an input image including a plurality of pixels having gradient values of a predetermined gray scale, wherein a subset of the pixels establishes a boundary of the input image and each of the pixels has a gradient value, and wherein one of the pixels identifies a centroid of the object, the method, performed by a signal processing system comprising the steps of:
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receiving data identifying a minimum object pixel subset of the pixels within both the pixels of the boundary input image and the pixels of the image that correspond to the object; repeatedly scanning the pixels outside the pixels of the minimum object pixel subset but within the pixels of the boundary of the input image to identify high-gradient pixels having a gradient value that exceed a predetermined threshold level; marking the identified high-gradient pixels as edge pixels; and locating and connecting gaps, if any are located between marked sage pixels.
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10. An image processing system for establishing a perimeter of an object in an input image including a plurality of pixels having gradient values of a predetermined gray scale, wherein a subset of the pixels establishes a boundary of the input image and each of the pixels has a gradient value, and wherein one of the pixels identifies a centroid of the object the system comprising:
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means for receiving data identifying a minimum object pixel subset of the pixels within both the pixels of the boundary input image and the pixels of the image that correspond to the object; means for repeatedly scanning the pixels outside the pixels of the minimum object pixel subset but within the pixels of the boundary of the input image to identify high-gradient pixels having a gradient value that exceed a predetermined threshold level; means for marking the identified high-gradient pixels as edge pixels; and means for locating and for connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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11. A method of determining whether a pixel of an input image corresponds to part of an object, wherein the input image includes a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a gradient value, and wherein the object includes a centroid, the method, performed by a signal processing system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the input image and a location of the centroid within the input image; fixing an imaginary clock hand fixed at the location of the centroid; sweeping, beginning at a first position, the imaginary clock hand clockwise or counterclockwise around the input image to locate a pixel underneath each position of the imaginary clock hand that has a highest gradient value; determining whether the highest gradient value exceeds a predetermined threshold gradient value; and marking the pixel having the highest gradient value that exceeds the predetermined threshold gradient value as an edge pixel; repeatedly performing the sweeping step, the determining step, and the marking step on successive positions of the imaginary clock hand until reaching the first position; and
locating and connecting gaps, if any are located between marked edge pixels.
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Specification