Low-level processing for real-time image analysis

This paper describes a system that detects object outlines in television images in real-time. A high-speed pipeline processor transforms the raw image into an edge map and a microprocessor, which is integrated into the system, clusters the edges and represents them as chain codes. Image statistics, useful for higher level tasks such as pattern recognition, are computed by the micro processor. Peak intensity and peak gradient values are extracted within a programmable window and are used for iris and focus control. The algorithms implemented in hardware and the pipeline processor architecture are described. The strategy for partitioning functions in the pipeline was chosen to make the implementation modular. The microprocessor interface allows flexible and adaptive control of the feature extraction process.