Image edge extraction via fuzzy reasoning
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-based method for detecting one or more edges in a multiple pixel digital image comprising the steps of:
- loading a multiple pixel digital gray scale image to be analyzed from an external source of images into an operating memory of a computer;
analyzing said image for edges with an image edge detection application run by said computer, said application comprising the steps of;
1) selecting a pixel in said image to be analyzed;
2) identifying a plurality of potential edge paths which pass through said selected pixel;
3) calculating an average pixel intensity gradient value for each of said edge paths by comparing a gray level intensity of pixels on one side of each of said edge paths to a gray level intensity of pixels on an opposite side of each of said edge paths;
4) selecting the greatest of said average pixel intensity gradient values of said edge paths as an input to a single fuzzy membership function and generating with said function, a plurality of output values that are related to a degree to which said pixel represents an edge in said image;
5) combining said plurality of output values using a weighted averaging analysis comprising an averaging union of truncated output singletons to assign a crisp edginess value to said pixel;
6) assigning a new edginess based gray level value to said pixel by multiplying an original gray level value of said selected pixel by said crisp edginess value, said new edginess based gray level value being proportional to an edginess degree of said selected pixel; and
7) repeating steps (1)-(6) for additional pixels in said image.
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Abstract
A computer-based technique for detecting edges in gray level digital images employs fuzzy reasoning to analyze whether each pixel in an image is likely on an edge. The image is analyzed on a pixel-by-pixel basis by analyzing gradient levels of pixels in a square window surrounding the pixel being analyzed. An edge path passing through the pixel having the greatest intensity gradient is used as input to a fuzzy membership function, which employs fuzzy singletons and inference rules to assigns a new gray level value to the pixel that is related to the pixel'"'"'s edginess degree.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A computer-based method for detecting one or more edges in a multiple pixel digital image comprising the steps of:
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loading a multiple pixel digital gray scale image to be analyzed from an external source of images into an operating memory of a computer; analyzing said image for edges with an image edge detection application run by said computer, said application comprising the steps of; 1) selecting a pixel in said image to be analyzed; 2) identifying a plurality of potential edge paths which pass through said selected pixel; 3) calculating an average pixel intensity gradient value for each of said edge paths by comparing a gray level intensity of pixels on one side of each of said edge paths to a gray level intensity of pixels on an opposite side of each of said edge paths; 4) selecting the greatest of said average pixel intensity gradient values of said edge paths as an input to a single fuzzy membership function and generating with said function, a plurality of output values that are related to a degree to which said pixel represents an edge in said image; 5) combining said plurality of output values using a weighted averaging analysis comprising an averaging union of truncated output singletons to assign a crisp edginess value to said pixel; 6) assigning a new edginess based gray level value to said pixel by multiplying an original gray level value of said selected pixel by said crisp edginess value, said new edginess based gray level value being proportional to an edginess degree of said selected pixel; and 7) repeating steps (1)-(6) for additional pixels in said image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer-based method for detecting one or more edges in a multiple pixel digital image comprising the steps of:
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loading a multiple pixel digital gray scale image to be analyzed from an external source of images into an operating memory of a computer; analyzing said image for edges with an image edge detection application run by said computer, said application comprising the steps of; 1) selecting a pixel in said image to be analyzed; 2) selecting an n×
n pixel window, where n is an odd number greater than or equal to 3 and said window includes a center pixel, wherein said center pixel is said pixel to be analyzed;3) identifying a plurality of edge paths that run through said center pixel and divide said window into first and second groups of pixels; 4) for each of said edge paths, calculating a first, average pixel intensity value of pixels in said first group and a second, average pixel intensity value of pixels in said second group; and
, calculating a difference between said first and second values to obtain an average pixel intensity gradient value for each said edge path;5) selecting the greatest of said average pixel intensity gradient values as an input to a single fuzzy membership function to generate a plurality of input values relating said average pixel intensity gradient value to a plurality of degrees of intensity; 6) applying a plurality of inference rules in an output membership function that relate the plurality of intensity degrees to a corresponding plurality of edginess degrees and generate a plurality of output values that are related to a degree to which said center pixel represents an edge in said image; 7) combining said plurality of output values using a weighted averaging analysis comprising an averaging union of truncated output singletons to assign a crisp edginess value to said center pixel; 8) assigning a new edginess based gray level value to said pixel by multiplying an original gray level value of said selected pixel by said crisp edginess value, said new edginess based gray level value being proportional to an edginess degree of said selected pixel; and
,9) repeating steps (1)-(8) for additional pixels in said image. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A computer system for detecting one or more edges in a multiple pixel digital image comprising:
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a processor; an operating memory interfaced to and readable by said processor; an external source of multiple pixel digital gray scale images to be analyzed for edges; and an image edge detection application embodied in said operating memory and executable by said processor for performing process steps for retrieving a multiple pixel gray scale digital image from said external source and detecting edges in said image, said process steps comprising the steps of; 1) retrieving an image to be analyzed from said source of images; 2) selecting a pixel in said image to be analyzed; 3) identifying a plurality of edge paths which pass through said selected pixel; 4) calculating an average pixel intensity gradient value for each of said edge paths by comparing a gray level intensity of pixels on one side of each of said edge paths to a gray level intensity of pixels on an opposite side of each of said edge paths; 5) selecting the greatest of said average pixel intensity gradient values of said edge paths as an input to a single fuzzy membership function and generating with said function, a plurality of output values that are related to a degree to which said pixel represents an edge in said image; 6) combining said plurality of output values using a weighted averaging analysis comprising an averaging union of truncated output singletons to assign a crisp edginess value to said pixel; 7) assigning a new edginess based gray level value to said pixel by multiplying an original gray level value of said selected pixel by said crisp edginess value, said new edginess based gray level value being proportional to an edginess degree of said selected pixel; and
,8) repeating steps (2)-(7) for additional pixels in said image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system for detecting one or more edges in a multiple pixel digital image comprising:
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a processor; an operating memory interfaced to and readable by said processor; an external source of multiple pixel digital gray scale images to be analyzed for edges; and
,an image edge detection application embodied in said operating memory and executable by said processor for performing process steps for retrieving a multiple pixel gray scale digital image from said external source and detecting edges in said image, said process steps comprising the steps of; 1) retrieving an image to be analyzed from said source of images; 2) selecting a pixel in said image to be analyzed; 3) selecting an n×
n pixel window, where n is an odd number greater than or equal to 3 and said window includes a center pixel, wherein said center pixel is said pixel to be analyzed;4) identifying a plurality of edge paths that run through said center pixel and divide said window into first and second groups of pixels; 5) for each of said edge paths, calculating a first, average pixel intensity value of pixels in said first group and a second, average pixel intensity value of pixels in said second group; and
, calculating a difference between said first and second values to obtain an average pixel intensity gradient value for each said edge path;6) selecting the greatest of said average pixel intensity gradient values as an input to a single fuzzy membership function to generate a plurality of input values relating said average pixel intensity gradient value to a plurality of degrees of intensity; 7) applying a plurality of inference rules in an output membership function that relate the plurality of intensity degrees to a corresponding plurality of edginess degrees and generate a plurality of output values that are related to a degree to which said center pixel represents an edge in said image; 8) combining said plurality of output values using a weighted averaging analysis comprising an averaging union of truncated output singletons to assign a crisp edginess value to said center pixel; 9) assigning a new edginess based gray level value to said pixel by multiplying an original gray level value of said selected pixel by said crisp edginess value, said new edginess based gray level value being proportional to an edginess degree of said selected pixel; and
,10) repeating steps (2)-(9) for additional pixels in said image. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification