JPH03180705A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable even a low-speed CPU to perform image processing almost in real time by extracting image data equivalent to one line in horizontal and vertical direction corresponding to the necessary contour part of an object from image plane data equivalent to one image plane. CONSTITUTION:A synchronizing signal generating circuit 1 generates a horizon tal and a vertical driving synchronizing signal for driving an area sensor 2, from which a video signal is obtained. The output of the sensor 2 is A/D- converted 3 and the brightness value of a head picture element on an i-th scan ning line is held 4 temporarily as a maximum brightness value. Then the bright ness value of a next picture element is compared 5 with the maximum bright ness value and the data held in the circuit 4 is rewritten into the larger value as the maximum brightness value. This processing carried on up to the data of a final picture element M to obtain the maximum brightness value on the i-th scanning line finally. This processing is performed as to scanning lines i=1 - N and the maximum brightness values of the 1st - N-th scanning lines are stored in order. Further, a longitudinal line memory 13 is stored with desired one-picture-element data by longitudinal picture element arrays.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to 1 a device for measuring, for example, the diameter and center position of a circular object, the gap length of a magnetic head, the line width of a semiconductor wafer, etc., and an automatic positioning device, etc. The present invention relates to an image processing method.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional dimension measuring device and image processing device, there is a device that stores information of one screen imaged by an area sensor in a frame memory and compares and judges all stored pixel information (for example, described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 176605/1982). A device that stores one line information captured by a line sensor in a line memory and calculates dimensions etc. from this information (e.g.,
263403).

For devices with area sensor and frame memory, 17
By detecting the contour points of the object from one image data for each scanning section of the image data in the frame and detecting the maximum value, minimum value, average value, etc. of each contour point, it is possible to measure the dimensions of the object. Performs image processing, etc.

For devices with line sensors and line memory.

The contour points of the object are detected from the image data in the line memory, the distances between the contour points are calculated, and the dimensions of the object are measured.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, -) In the case of a device having an in-sensor and a line memory, dimensions can be measured only in one direction.

The disadvantage of not being able to process images is that devices with area sensors and frame memory judge each contour of the subject from all image data, so the processing time of a computer, etc. (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) is slow and the number of image data is large. The disadvantage is that the processing time increases in some cases.

The present invention eliminates these drawbacks and extracts image data for one line each in the horizontal and vertical directions corresponding to the outline of the subject from all the image data in the frame memory, and extracts characteristic parts such as the outline of the subject at high speed. The purpose is to extract and judge.

[0 Means and Effects for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention. In the figure, a synchronization signal generation circuit 1 generates synchronization signals for horizontal and vertical driving to drive an area sensor 2, and a video signal is obtained from the area sensor 2.

Here, as shown on the screen of the monitor 15, the number of scanning lines of the area sensor 2 is N, and the number of pixels in one scanning line is M. In the vertical (vertical) direction line memory 12, desired one pixel data for each horizontal scanning line becomes the next digital signal, and the i''th
The brightness value vi1 of the first pixel in the a-th scanning line is temporarily held in the brightness value holding circuit 4 as the maximum brightness value vip. and.

The brightness value Viz of the next pixel and this held maximum brightness value vip are compared in the comparator circuit 5, the larger one is set as the new maximum brightness value vip, and the data held in the brightness value holding circuit 4 is written down. This process is similarly performed up to the data of the final pixel M, and finally the maximum luminance value Vip4 in the first scanning line is obtained. This process is performed from scanning line i=l to N, and the vertical line memory 12 stores the first scanning line to the Nwrth scanning line from the first scanning line to the scanning line Nwr.
Each maximum brightness value Vip to VNp in the eye scanning line is sequentially stored.

do.

In the horizontal line memory 13, desired one pixel data is selected for every six vertical (vertical) pixel columns by the following process.
be remembered.

The luminance value vj1 of the pixel on the first scanning line in one pixel column is temporarily set as the maximum luminance value vjp, and the maximum luminance value ■jp is compared in the comparator circuit 9, and the thicker one is set as the new maximum luminance value Vjp. Rewrite the data held in the holding circuit 8. Similarly, this process is performed up to pixel 0 data on the final Nth scanning line, and finally the maximum luminance value vjp in one pixel column is obtained. Then, this process is performed from 9 pixel columns j=1 to M, and the horizontal line memory 13 stores
Each maximum luminance value V1 in the MiIth pixel column from the 1st scan
VMp is stored sequentially from p.

As a result, the maximum luminance value on each horizontal scanning line is obtained in the vertical line memory 12, and the maximum luminance value on each horizontal scanning line is obtained in the horizontal line memory 13.
The maximum brightness value on each pixel column is obtained. Note that one or more processes can be performed within one frame configuration time FT (usually 1/30 seconds) of the area sensor 2 output.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail using an example in which a white circular image with uniform brightness is processed as a measurement target (subject).

As shown in Fig. 2, if an image is taken of a subject with a white circle on a black background, maximum luminance value data 17.18 will be obtained in the vertical and horizontal line memories 12 and 13, which corresponds to the outline of these objects. For example, if the data is analyzed by the CPU 14,
The intermediate value of the brightness value changing part is set to the object contour point Eu, Ed
By detecting as , El, and Er, the vertical and horizontal diameters (Eu-Ed) of the subject are detected.

(Er-El)
CPU: 14 Computation time: CT/line, 2C
In Q), the above processing can be done with T, and the CPU 14
It is only necessary to have the ability to process 22 inches of image data in one frame time, so it is necessary to use a slower CP than before.
U blushes for good.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which a gap portion of the magnetic head 19 is imaged. Usually, the track portion 20 of the magnetic head 19 is white.
Gap $21 is black, and other surrounding areas are black. In this case, the vertical line memory 1 is also
Contour points Eu and Ed obtained from the memory data 22 of 2 and contour point E obtained from the memory data 23 of the horizontal line memory 13
l, Ed, the center position of the gap portion 21 of the magnetic head 19 ((Eu+Ed/2.(E6+Er)/2)
And the cap length (Er-Ed) can be determined at the same time.

In the above description, when the pixel data 0 is compared in the comparison circuits 5 and 9, the larger value is assigned to each luminance value holding circuit 4 and 8.
However, depending on the subject, if detecting the minimum brightness value makes it easier to extract the outline of the subject, the smaller value is held in each brightness value holding circuit 4 and 8. Compare as shown. It is also possible to use it as a process.

Also, switch 7.11 is switched from the comparator circuit 5, 9 side to the adder circuit 6, 10 side, and the sum value of all pixel data for each scanning line and the sum value of all pixel data for each pixel column are the same as above. By storing this in the vertical and horizontal line memories 12.13, it is possible to detect the center of gravity of the luminance values in the nine images (subjects). Furthermore, when comparing images input in real time, vertical and horizontal line memory 1
By controlling the image data rewriting in 2.13 by the CPU 14, various image processing of objects such as moving objects can be performed.

Note that although the subject image from the frame memory 16 is displayed on the monitor 15, it is calculated by the above-mentioned processing as necessary. It is also possible to display vertical and horizontal dimension data, center of gravity position data, etc.0 [Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to display the required outline of the subject from the entire image data for one screen. Because image data for one line in the horizontal and vertical directions is extracted and processed, slow CP
Near real-time image processing can also be achieved with the U.

Possible image processing is vertical (vertical) of the subject.

Measurement of dimensions in the lateral (horizontal) direction, center of gravity position of brightness values.

General image processing such as midpoint position detection and its applications such as position recognition and shape recognition of various objects can be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the measurement situation of a circular object, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the measurement situation of the magnetic heald gap length. 2: Area sensor, 12: Vertical line memory. 4.8: Brightness value holding circuit, 5.9: Comparison circuit, 6.10
= Addition circuit, 13: Horizontal line memo IJ, 7. ．． 11
: Switch, 16: Frame memory, 14: CPU. 15: Monitor. Jz8 ka, 3B

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a device that processes a subject image captured using an area sensor, as a means for performing image recognition such as the predetermined dimensions of the subject and the center position of the brightness value, the means for extracting maximum or minimum brightness value data for each horizontal scanning line as vertical (vertical) direction extraction data, and means for extracting maximum or minimum brightness value data for each vertical (vertical) direction pixel column as horizontal (horizontal) direction extraction data. Means for extracting luminance value data, vertical (vertical) extracted data and horizontal (horizontal)
An image processing method characterized by comprising means for calculating characteristic portions of the subject based on direction extraction data. 2. In a device that processes a subject image captured using an area sensor, as a means of image recognition such as the predetermined dimensions of the subject and the center position of the brightness value, vertical (vertical) A means for adding and extracting the image data for each horizontal scanning line as direction extraction data, and a means for adding and extracting the image data for each vertical (vertical) direction pixel column as horizontal (horizontal) direction extraction data. And these vertical (
1. An image processing method comprising: means for calculating characteristic portions of the subject based on extracted data in a vertical (vertical) direction and extracted data in a lateral (horizontal) direction.