Optical-digital method and processor for pattern recognition
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for extracting the boundary of an object in a sensor input image comprising the steps of:
- overlapping a slit and the object in the sensor input image;
rotating the slit relative to the object, the slit thereby sampling the entire boundary of the object; and
calculating for each rotation position an area of overlap of the slit and the object versus an angle between the slit and the object;
wherein an algorithm for calculating the area of overlap versus the angle comprises;
##EQU4## where rect r/rrect (θ
'"'"'+θ
)! is the slit rotated by an angle θ
, and rect r/r(θ
'"'"')! is the object in the sensor input image.
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Abstract
The invention is an optical-digital method and processor which uses micro-optical lenslet arrays and fixed masks to implement an angular correlation algorithm and the Hough transform for extracting amplitude and geometric features from objects embedded in video imagery. The optical-digital processor can be interfaced to a variety of sensors and can be used to classify objects when used in conjunction with a neural network.
71 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for extracting the boundary of an object in a sensor input image comprising the steps of:
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overlapping a slit and the object in the sensor input image; rotating the slit relative to the object, the slit thereby sampling the entire boundary of the object; and calculating for each rotation position an area of overlap of the slit and the object versus an angle between the slit and the object;
wherein an algorithm for calculating the area of overlap versus the angle comprises;
##EQU4## where rect r/rrect (θ
'"'"'+θ
)! is the slit rotated by an angle θ
, and rect r/r(θ
'"'"')! is the object in the sensor input image.
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2. An optical-digital signal processor for extracting a feature from an object in a sensor input image, the signal processor comprising:
an optical processor for extracting the boundary of the object, wherein the optical processor comprises; a multi-lenslet array for replicating the sensor input image; a fixed mask containing a series of rotated slits for passing the replicated sensor input images therethrough; and a detector array for receiving the replicated sensor input images and for integrating the superposition of each replicated sensor input image and the corresponding fixed mask slit; and a digital processor for calculating a feature of the object using the extracted boundary of the object. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for extracting the boundary of an object in a sensor input image comprising the steps of:
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overlapping a slit and the object in the sensor input image; rotating the slit relative to the object, the slit thereby sampling the entire boundary of the object; calculating for each rotation position an area of overlap of the slit and the object versus an angle between the slit and the object; and generating a Hough transform of the object comprising calculating an annular correlation.
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16. An optical-digital signal processor for extracting a feature from an object in a sensor input image, the signal processor comprising:
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a video display; a collimating lens; a zoom lens; a microchannel plate for receiving the sensor input image from the zoom lens and forming a real image; a multi-lenslet array for replicating the sensor input image; two fixed masks, a first mask containing a first pattern comprising a series of rotated radial slits and a second mask containing a second pattern comprising a plurality of annuli having different diameters, the first and second fixed masks for passing the replicated images therethrough and extracting the boundary of the object; a detector array for receiving the replicated images and for integrating the superposition of each replicated image and the corresponding fixed mask patterns; and a digital processor for calculating a feature of the object using the extracted boundary of the object.
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Specification