Hardware for visual image processing

Emphasis in this survey of hardware for visual image processing is on centers which specialize in "computer vision" research, although some of the findings are generally applicable to all areas of image processing. Tradeoffs between parameters of speed, dynamic range, and resolution are discussed as they apply to industrial and research applications. A discussion of various types of imaging devices and analog-to-digital converters follows. Next, problems which occur in various devices are discussed and some methods of compensation are suggested. Then, the three most popular methods of computer entry of image data are compared. The paper concludes with a brief description of visual image processing research in progress at nine laboratories, with emphasis on the hardware used by those laboratories as it relates to the problems being worked on.