Method and Device for the Segmentation of Regions and Related Computer Program Product
First Claim
1. A method for the segmentation of locally defined, two-dimensional regions, the method which comprises:
- separating input data acquired from an image region under investigation into a foreground mask containing foreground data corresponding to relatively larger or higher values, and a background mask containing background data corresponding to relatively lower values by applying a threshold value;
subjecting the input data to two different filtering operations to determine segmentation starting points, with a filter reducing sharp contours or contrasts, and a filter for determining local maxima in a region;
subtracting the data sets resulting from the two different filtering operations and defining image regions having a specific threshold value or threshold value range as segmentation starting points;
generating a less restrictive mask by subjecting the input data to a filtering operation accentuating high-frequency parts or a filtering operation detecting edges, and applying a specific threshold value to the resulting data, and correlating the data set obtained therewith the data of the foreground mask;
generating a restrictive mask by subjecting the less restrictive mask to a labeling with respect to the determination of local values of each individual locally defined region or cluster, and determining median values of the respective regions, and subjecting the values obtained in each cluster to a discrimination with a preset threshold value;
eliminating segmentation starting points not contained in the less restrictive mask;
effecting a growth in the respective regions of the restrictive mask proceeding from the individual segmentation starting points;
continuing a growth of these regions in the less restrictive mask; and
viewing the regions obtained in the restrictive mask as the segmented brightness regions.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for segmentation of locally-defined regions. The input data obtained for the image region under investigation is separated into a foreground mask and a background mask by application of a threshold value, two different filter operations are applied to the input data to determine segmentation starting points, the resulting data sets are subtracted and the image regions viewed as segmentation starting points, a filter operation is applied to generate a less restrictive mask for the input data, the resulting data subjected to a threshold value reduction, the less restrictive mask subjected to a labeling with regard to determination of the local values for generation of a restrictive mask, the mean values determined, segmentation starting points not obtained in the less restrictive mask are removed, a growth into all regions of the restrictive mask is carried out and the regions obtained in the restrictive mask are viewed as the segmented brightness regions.
20 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for the segmentation of locally defined, two-dimensional regions, the method which comprises:
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separating input data acquired from an image region under investigation into a foreground mask containing foreground data corresponding to relatively larger or higher values, and a background mask containing background data corresponding to relatively lower values by applying a threshold value; subjecting the input data to two different filtering operations to determine segmentation starting points, with a filter reducing sharp contours or contrasts, and a filter for determining local maxima in a region; subtracting the data sets resulting from the two different filtering operations and defining image regions having a specific threshold value or threshold value range as segmentation starting points; generating a less restrictive mask by subjecting the input data to a filtering operation accentuating high-frequency parts or a filtering operation detecting edges, and applying a specific threshold value to the resulting data, and correlating the data set obtained therewith the data of the foreground mask; generating a restrictive mask by subjecting the less restrictive mask to a labeling with respect to the determination of local values of each individual locally defined region or cluster, and determining median values of the respective regions, and subjecting the values obtained in each cluster to a discrimination with a preset threshold value; eliminating segmentation starting points not contained in the less restrictive mask; effecting a growth in the respective regions of the restrictive mask proceeding from the individual segmentation starting points; continuing a growth of these regions in the less restrictive mask; and viewing the regions obtained in the restrictive mask as the segmented brightness regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 32)
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18. A device for the segmentation of locally defined, two-dimensional regions, the device comprising:
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a discriminator connected to receive input data related to an image region under investigation and configured to separate the input data into a foreground mask containing foreground data corresponding to greater values and a background mask containing background data corresponding to lower values; a filter unit connected to said discriminator and configured to determine segmentation starting points by subjecting the input data to two different filtrations, said filter unit including a filter for reducing sharp contours or contrasts, and a local maximum filter; a subtraction unit connected to said filter unit for subtracting the data sets resulting from the two different filtrations, and for determining, storing, and/or making available for further calculation, the image regions having a specific threshold value or threshold value range; a filter for generating a less restrictive mask by detecting edges or accentuating the high-frequency parts of the input data; a labeling unit for generating a restrictive mask, said labeling unit subjecting the less restrictive mask to a labeling with respect to a determination of the local values of each individual locally defined region or cluster, and wherein the median values of the respective regions are determined, whereby the values obtained in each cluster are subjected to a discrimination with a preset threshold value; a comparator connected to said filter and configured to remove segmentation starting points not contained in the less restrictive mask; a growing unit connected to said comparator, said growing unit undertaking a growth in the respective regions of the restrictive mask proceeding from individual segmentation starting points, and continuing the growth of these regions in the less restrictive mask, and optionally subsequently in the foreground mask; and at least one further unit selected from the group consisting of a storage unit, a display unit, and a further evaluation unit for storing, displaying, and/or further processing the regions obtained in the restrictive mask, or in the foreground mask, as the desired segmented brightness regions. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification