Image processing method and apparatus for correlating a test image with a template
First Claim
1. A method for correlating a test image with a template to identify a specific object wherein both the test image and the template are comprised of a plurality of pixels representative of respective predetermined gray levels, and wherein the template is partitioned into a plurality of labels comprised of at least one pixel, the method comprising the steps of:
- dividing the template into a plurality of pieces;
comparing each piece of the template to a predetermined region of the test image such that at least some of the pixels of each piece of the template correspond to respective pixels of the test image and such that at least some deformation between the pieces of the template is permitted;
separately determining, for each piece of the template and for each of a plurality of predetermined gray levels j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj,i representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to a predetermined label i of the respective piece of the template;
separately determining, for each piece of the template and for each of a plurality of predetermined gray levels j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to the respective piece of the template to identify said object; and
separately determining the correlation X between each piece of the test image and the template according to;
##EQU4## wherein NT is the total number of pixels which comprise the respective piece of the template, Ni is the number of pixels which form each of the plurality of labels i of the respective piece of the template, imin and imax are the minimum and maximum label designations, respectively, and jmin and jmax are the minimum and maximum gray levels, respectively.
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Abstract
The image correlation method and apparatus correlates or matches a test image with a template. The image correlation apparatus includes an image processor for partitioning the template into a number of labels, for determining the total number of pixels NT which form the template and for determining the number of pixels Ni which form each of the labels i. The image correlation apparatus also includes comparison means for comparing the test image to the template. The comparison means determines, for each predetermined gray level j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj,i representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to a predetermined label i of the template. The comparison means also determines, for each predetermined gray level j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to the template. The image correlation apparatus further includes correlation means for determining the correlation X between the test image and the template according to a predetermined equation which is based, at least in part, upon Nj,i, Nj, Ni and NT. The image correlation apparatus can also include an address generator for creating a number of relative offsets between the template and the test image. Thus, the test image can be compared to the template at each relative offset and the relative offset which provides the greatest correlation therebetween can be determined. Consequently, the test image and the template can be effectively matched such that a preselected object designated within the template can be located and identified within the test image.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for correlating a test image with a template to identify a specific object wherein both the test image and the template are comprised of a plurality of pixels representative of respective predetermined gray levels, and wherein the template is partitioned into a plurality of labels comprised of at least one pixel, the method comprising the steps of:
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dividing the template into a plurality of pieces; comparing each piece of the template to a predetermined region of the test image such that at least some of the pixels of each piece of the template correspond to respective pixels of the test image and such that at least some deformation between the pieces of the template is permitted; separately determining, for each piece of the template and for each of a plurality of predetermined gray levels j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj,i representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to a predetermined label i of the respective piece of the template; separately determining, for each piece of the template and for each of a plurality of predetermined gray levels j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to the respective piece of the template to identify said object; and separately determining the correlation X between each piece of the test image and the template according to;
##EQU4## wherein NT is the total number of pixels which comprise the respective piece of the template, Ni is the number of pixels which form each of the plurality of labels i of the respective piece of the template, imin and imax are the minimum and maximum label designations, respectively, and jmin and jmax are the minimum and maximum gray levels, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for correlating a test image and a template to identify a specific object wherein both the test image and the template are comprised of a plurality of pixels representative of respective predetermined gray levels, and wherein the template is partitioned into a plurality of labels comprised of at least one pixel, the apparatus comprising:
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an image processor for dividing the template into a plurality of pieces; comparison means, responsive to said image processor, for comparing each piece of the template to a predetermined range of the test image such that at least some of the pixels of each piece of the template correspond to respective pixels of the test image and such that at least some deformation between the pieces of the template is permitted, wherein said comparison means comprises; means for separately determining, for each piece of the template and for each of a plurality of predetermined gray levels j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj,i representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to a predetermined label of the respective piece of the template; means for separately determining, for each piece of the template and for each of a plurality of predetermined gray levels j, the number of pixels of the test image Nj representative of a predetermined gray level j which correspond to the respective piece of the template; and correlation means, responsive to said template processing means and said comparison means, for separately determining the correlation X between the test image and each piece of the template to identify said object according to;
##EQU5## wherein NT is the total number of pixels which comprise the respective piece of the template, Ni is the number of pixels which form each of the plurality of labels i of the respective piece of the template, imin and imax are the minimum and maximum label designations, respectively, and wherein jmin and jmax are the minimum and maximum gray levels, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification