JPH03206573A - Image labeling processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with a working memory large in capacity and to perform processing only with one time of raster scan by tracing the boundary of an area according to address information from a boundary trace address generation circuit, and attaching a label value from a label value generation circuit on each picture element of the area. CONSTITUTION:The boundary trace address generation circuit 3 outputs the address of a neighboring picture element centering a picture element targeted to be processed to a boundary trace controller 2 as a trace address, and the boundary trace controller 2 transfers processing from the control of the boundary trace controller 2 to that of a raster scan controller 11 when completing one round of the boundary of the area, then, makes it restart the raster scan. The label value generation circuit 12 generates the label value to be attached on the picture element of the area in a boundary based on the scan result of the raster scan controller 11. Thereby, it is possible to dispense with the working memory large in capacity, and to perform the processing only for one time of raster scan.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image labeling processing device that distinguishes each region within an image and assigns a label code to each region.

(Prior Art) When determining the feature amount of each region in an image, such as area and center of gravity, it is necessary to distinguish each region. At this time, the same label code is given to each pixel in an interconnected region having a common feature to the image data for each pixel stored in the image memory. For example, when the above labeling process is performed on a binary image as shown in FIG. 6(a), a labeled image divided into regions 1 and 2.3 as shown in FIG. 6(b) is obtained. can get. This labeling process will be explained step by step below.

i) First, raster scan the image, and if the pixel A to be processed is "1" (area), the neighboring pixels a.0 to 0 shown in FIG.
See alo.

At this time, if all the neighboring pixels are "0" (outside the area), a new label number is generated and its value is written into the label image memory. Furthermore, when a label number has already been assigned to a neighboring pixel, that value is written into the label image memory.

Also, if a different label number is assigned to the same area, the smaller value is written to the label image memory,
The information is stored in the concatenation information table so that different label numbers become the same label number.

Then, the above processing is performed for one raster scan (all pixels).

ii) Next, the image obtained in the process i) above is raster-scanned again, and while referring to the connection information table, the label numbers are arranged and rewritten in the label image memory.

Then, this process is performed for one raster scan (all pixels).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional image labeling processing devices perform the above-mentioned labeling processing, so a large-capacity linked information table is required as a working memory in order to handle all target images, and it is also difficult to organize the contents of the linked information table. This method takes time, requires raster scanning twice, requires a large circuit, and requires a long processing time.

This invention was made with attention to these problems, and it is an image processing system that does not require a large capacity working memory, only requires one raster scan, has a small circuit scale, and has a short processing time. The purpose is to obtain a labeling processing device.

[Means to solve the problem]

The image labeling processing device of the present invention is a labeling processing device that assigns the same label code to each pixel in an interconnected region having a common feature to image data for each pixel stored in an image memory. , a raster scan controller that controls raster scan of image data, a raster scan address generator that generates addresses for raster scan, and temporarily holds the output address of the raster scan address generator as a start point address for boundary tracing. a boundary tracking address generation circuit having a coordinate register and a direction code generator for generating direction codes of neighboring pixels centered on the pixel to be processed; and tracking the boundary according to the tracking address output from the boundary tracking address generation circuit. a boundary tracking controller that selects the output of the raster scanning address generator and the output of the boundary tracking address generation circuit and outputs a control address to a target image memory in which image data is stored and a label image memory in which a label value is written. a label value generation circuit that generates a label value to be given to pixels in the area within the boundary based on the scanning result of the raster scan controller; The device is equipped with a labeled function unit that performs writing control, and a perimeter determiner that determines the perimeter of the boundary of the region, and is equipped with a perimeter determiner that determines the perimeter of the boundary of the region, and determines whether the perimeter is greater than or equal to a predetermined perimeter or less than the predetermined perimeter. The labeling process is performed after removal.

(Operation) In the image labeling processing device of the present invention, the boundary of an area is tracked according to the address information from the boundary tracking address generation circuit, a label value from the label value generation circuit is given to each pixel of the area, and 1 Labeling processing is performed in each raster scan.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image labeling processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a raster scanning address generator that generates addresses during raster scanning, 2 is a boundary tracking controller that tracks the boundaries of mutually connected areas having common features in an image, and 3 is this boundary tracking. A boundary tracing address generation circuit provides a tracing address to the controller 2, and a selector 4 selects between two outputs of each address, which is controlled by the output of the boundary tracing controller 2. 5 is a perimeter determiner that determines the perimeter of the boundary of a region; 6 is a perimeter determiner that determines the perimeter of the boundary; 7 is a target image memory that stores data of the image to be processed; 8 is data of the image that has been subjected to labeling processing. A processing image memory storing , the writing of which is controlled by the boundary tracking controller 2 .

Reference numeral 9 denotes a label image memory for storing data of images to which label values have been added, and the output side of the selector 4 is connected to the atres terminal together with the image memories 7 and 8 described above. 10 is a labeled function unit that controls writing to the label image memory 9 according to the direction code from the boundary tracking address generation circuit 3;
Reference numeral 11 denotes a raster scan controller for controlling raster scan of image data, and the output data of the processed image memory 8 is input manually.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a label value generation circuit that generates a label value to be given to the pixels in the area within the boundary based on the scanning result of the raster scanning controller 11, and outputs the value to the data input terminal of the label image memory 9.

13 is a line buffer; 14 is a latch that temporarily stores the output data of the target image memory 7 and supplies it to the raster scan controller 11; and 15 is a hole counter for corresponding to the pixels in the gap.

In addition, in the boundary tracking address generation circuit 3, 16a, 1
6b is an X-coordinate register and a Y-coordinate register into which the X-coordinate value and Y-coordinate value of the starting point address are manually entered from the raster scanning address generator 1; 17a and 17b are selectors; 18a,
18b is the output of registers 16a and 16b and selector 17
A comparator that compares the outputs of a and 17b and outputs the result to the boundary tracking controller 2. 19a and 19b are registers that temporarily hold the output data of selectors 17a and 17b, 20a and 20b are incrementers that add 1 (add) to the human power value and output it, and 21a and 2lb are registers that decrease the human power value by -1.
22a and 22b are selectors, 23 is a direction code generator that generates the aforementioned direction code in a predetermined order, 24 is a direction code register that temporarily holds the direction code, and 26 is the selector that outputs the direction code according to the direction code. Address generation function units 22a and 22b select manual input, and 26 is a comparator that compares the output of the direction code register 24 with the output of the address generation function unit 25, and outputs the comparison result to the boundary tracking controller 2. 27 is an output direction register into which the output code of the direction code generator 23 is input, and 28 is a manual direction register that holds the output of the output direction register 27.

Further, in the label value generation circuit 12, a selector 29 selects a label value and outputs it to the label image memory 9;
31 is a label counter, and 32 and 33 are line buffers and latches.

The boundary tracking address generation circuit 3 outputs addresses of neighboring pixels around the pixel to be processed as a tracking address to the boundary tracking controller 2.
is designed to restart raster scanning when it has gone around the boundary of the area once.

Next, processing of four connected pixels centered around the pixel to be processed will be explained step by step.

■) First, “1” (area) of pixels near the pixel to be processed,
By the value of ``0'' (outside area), 3 as shown in Figure 2.
Sort into species and process.

That is, the pixel shown in FIG. 2(a) (the underlined pixel) is the first pixel in the raster scanning order of an area that has not yet been assigned a label number, that is, it is part of the outer boundary of that area. . In this case, the selector 29 selects 8 people power and the process is shifted to the control of the boundary tracking controller 2. Also,
A pixel as shown in FIG. 2(b) is a right-most boundary pixel of the first line in the raster scanning order of the gap in the area to which the label number N has already been assigned. In this case, the value of the hall counter 15 is incremented by +1, the selector 29 selects C manual power, and the process is shifted to the control of the boundary tracking controller 2. Further, pixels as shown in FIG. 2(C) are pixels within an area to which a label number has already been assigned. In this case, the raster scan controller 11 selects D manual of the selector 29 and writes the label number N of the pixel to the left of the pixel to be processed into the label image memory 9. Then, the process is transferred to the control of the raster scan controller 11, and raster scan is performed.

(2) Next, the processing target pixel is set as the boundary tracking start pixel, and the X. The Y coordinate is manually entered into each of the X coordinate register 16a and Y coordinate register 16b.

(2) Select eight inputs of selectors 17a, 17b, selectors 11, 22a, 22b and B input of selector 4, and input the data to registers 19a, 19b.

After that, B manual power is selected from selectors 17a and 17b.

(2) Then, the subsequent boundary tracking process is started while referring to the values in the target image memory 7 for pixels in the vicinity of the pixel to be processed.

■) When entering the boundary tracking process, first the direction code generator 23
outputs direction codes in the order of "2→3→0→1" as shown in FIG. Then, the value of the direction code is inputted to the address generation function unit 25, and the value of the direction code is inputted to the selector 2 as shown in Table 1.
2a and 22b are selected, thereby generating address values of neighboring pixels.

Table 1 1 2 The target image memory 7 is referred to according to the generated address value, and the direction code of the direction that becomes "1" first is inputted into the direction code register 24 and the output direction register 27. Then, the eight selectors 22a and 22b are selected, and the label value output from the selector 29 is written to the processing target pixel of the label image memory 9, and "1" is written to the processing target pixel of the processing image memory 8. It's crowded.

Furthermore, when the values in all directions are "0'°," the pixel to be processed is treated as an isolated point, and only the label value is written.

■) Select eight inputs of the selectors 22a and 22b by the address generation function unit 25 again according to the above direction code,
The coordinates of the next boundary pixel are entered into registers 16a and 16b.

■) The output value of the output direction register 27 is manually entered into the input direction register 28, and the direction code generator 23 is generated from the value shown in Table 2.
Generate direction codes in the reference direction order as shown in .

The direction of the next boundary pixel is determined while referring to the target image memory 7 according to the address in Table 2. Then, the direction code is entered into the output direction register 27, and when the labeled function unit 10 satisfies the conditions shown in Table 3, it writes the output label value of the selector 29 into the label image memory 9, and
” is written into the processed image memory 8.

Measure the perimeter of the area by counting.

Then, the labeling process is performed by removing areas having a circumference greater than or equal to a predetermined circumference or less than a predetermined circumference.

■) Next, when the two forces of the comparators 18a, 18b and 26 become equal at the same time, that is, when the boundary of the area is 1
When the raster scanning controller 2 completes the cycle, the processing is transferred from the boundary tracking controller 2 to the raster scanning controller 11, and the raster scanning is restarted.

However, in the case shown in FIG. 2(a), when the perimeter determiner 5 and the outer circumference determiner 6 satisfy a predetermined condition, the value of the label counter 31 is incremented by +1, and the B manual power of the selector 29 is reduced. Then, the boundary of the area is traced once again according to the steps ① to ① above, and the output label value of the selector 29 is written into the label image memory 9.

By applying the above steps) to ■) to the target image,
Labeling can be done with one raster scan. At this time, since a large capacity working memory is not required, the circuit scale can be reduced and the processing time can also be shortened. It is also possible to extract the number of holes in the target image at the same time as the labeling process, even when part of the area includes the outer periphery of the image.
The labeling process can be performed by removing it. Furthermore, since the labeling process can be performed by determining the perimeter of the area, it is possible to remove noise from small areas.

In addition, although the above embodiment described the process of 4 connections,
Processing of 8 connected pixels as shown in FIG. 4 can be performed in a similar manner. In this case, direction code generator 2
3 outputs direction codes in the order shown in FIG.

Table 4 1 6 Further, the reference direction procedure when generating the direction code of the direction code generator 23 is as shown in Table 5, and the conditions of the labeled function unit 10 when writing the label value to the label image memory 9 are as follows. Table 6 shows the result.

Table 5 Table 6 [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a large-capacity working memory is not required, processing is completed with one raster scan, the circuit size is small, and the processing time is reduced. It has the effect of being short.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(a). (b). (c) and FIG. 3 are explanatory diagrams showing processing operations for four connected pixels, and FIG. 4 (a). (b). (
c) and FIG. 5 are explanatory diagrams showing processing operations for 8-connected pixels, and FIG. 6(a). (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the labeling process, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing operation by the conventional apparatus. 1... Address generator for raster scanning 2...
・・Boundary tracking controller 3 --------Boundary tracking address generation circuit 4...
・・Selector 5 ・・Perimeter length determiner 6 ・・・Perimeter determiner 7 ・・・Target image memory 8 ・・・Processed image memory 9 ・・・・・-Label image memory 10-----Labeled function unit 1 1-... Raster scan controller 1 2-
-----Label value generation circuit 16a---X coordinate register 16b---Y coordinate register 17a, 17b---Selector 18
a, 18b --- Comparators 22 a, 22 b --- Selector 23 --- Direction code generator 24 --- Direction code register 2 5 --- Address generation Function unit 2 6 --
---Comparator

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Raster scanning of image data is performed in a labeling processing device that assigns the same label code to each pixel in an interconnected region having a common feature to image data for each pixel stored in an image memory. A raster scan controller to control, a raster scan address generator to generate raster scan addresses, a coordinate register to temporarily hold the output address of the raster scan address generator as a start point address for boundary tracing, and the pixel to be processed. a boundary tracking address generation circuit having a direction code generator that generates a direction code of a neighboring pixel centered at , a boundary tracking controller that tracks the boundary according to a tracking address output from the boundary tracking address generation circuit; a selector that selects the output of the raster scanning address generator and the output of the boundary tracking address generation circuit and outputs a control address to a target image memory in which image data is stored and a label image memory in which a label value is written; a label value generation circuit that generates a label value to be given to a pixel in the area within the boundary based on the scanning result; and a labeling circuit that controls writing to the label image memory by outputting a direction code from the boundary tracking address generation circuit. An image labeling processing device characterized by comprising: a function unit. (2) The labeling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a perimeter determiner for determining the perimeter of the boundary of the region, and performs the labeling process by removing regions having a perimeter greater than or equal to a predetermined perimeter or less than a predetermined perimeter. image labeling processing device.