Dynamic data correction generator for an image analyzer system

Apparatus for analyzing images represented by a serial stream of multi-bit digital data signals whose values correspond to characteristics of points in a scene constituting an image matrix, said apparatus comprising:

• a chain of substantially identical neighborhood transformation stages, each stage having an input for receiving the digital signals, neighborhood extraction means including a plurality of storage devices for temporarily storing a neighborhood in the matrix comprised of a central data point and its surrounding data points in the matrix, means for loading the signals in the storage devices to sequentially access substantially all of the neighborhoods in the matrix, a transformation generator portion including neighborhood contribution circuit means coupled to the neighborhood extraction means for modifying the values of each point in the neighborhood when they are loaded in the storage devices, and maximum value selection means coupled to the outputs of said neighborhood contribution circuit means for selecting the maximum value associated with any of the points in the contribution modified neighborhood and providing said maximum value as the transformation output signal to the next stage;
• central controller means coupled to the neighborhood contribution circuit means of each stage for selectively altering the modification of the neighborhood of points in each stage;
• and
• dynamic data correction circuitry means including means coupled to said neighborhood extraction means, operative to sense the value of the central data point, means in the neighborhood contribution circuit means for adding to the values of the data points in each neighborhood a correction value associated with the sensed value of the central data point so that all of the adjusted data points in the neighborhood are within a particular range of values whereby said maximum value selection means may accurately identify the data point in the neighborhood truly having the maximum value associated with the sensed scene, and means coupled to the output of the maximum value selection means, operative to subtract the correction value from the transformation output signal.

In an image analyzer system for analyzing images represented by multi-bit digital data signals whose values correspond to characteristics of points in a matrix constituting the image, said analyzer system including neighborhood extraction means for temporarily storing a neighborhood in the matrix comprised of a central data point and its surrounding points in the matrix, a transformation generator portion including contribution circuit means coupled to the neighborhood extraction means for modifying the values of each point in the neighborhood, and maximum value selection means coupled to the outputs of said neighborhood contribution circuit means for selecting the maximum value associated with any of the points in the neighborhood and providing said maximum value as a transformation output signal, wherein the improvement comprises dynamic data correction circuitry means including:

• means coupled to said neighborhood extraction means, operative to sense the value of the central data point;
• adder means in the neighborhood contribution circuit means for adding to the values of all of the neighborhood data points a correction value associated with the sensed value of the central data point so that all of the adjusted data points in the neighborhood are within a particular range of values whereby said maximum value selection means may accurately identify the data point in the neighborhood truly having the maximum value associated with the image;
• and
• means coupled to the output of the maximum value selection means, operative to subtract the correction value from the transformation output signal.