"Apparatus for transforming a two-level image into contour vectors by decomposing composite figures into ""unitary"" (open) and closed-loop figures, especially suitable for minimizing memory use while maintaining system processing speed"
US5357602A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T9/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for transforming a line image, in the form of a two-level digital image, into contour vectors, and forming a center line for the image. First, the contour (or contours) of the image are traced and corrected, after which the center line of the image is determined based on the contour vectors that define opposite sides of the line image. In the contour correction process, composite line images having both "unitary" (open) figures such as in FIG. 7A, and closed-loop figures (such as in FIG. 7B) are decomposed into separably distinguishable unitary figures and closed-loop figures. This decomposition facilitates determination of the center line of the contour vectors, while reducing memory usage and not compromising processing speed as compared with known systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.