Image analyzer with variable line storage

In an image analyzer system having at least one serial neighborhood processing stage for analyzing an image matrix represented by a plurality of raster scan lines of pixel values, said stage having an M row X N Column array of storage registers for temporarily storing a neighborhood window for analysis, said neighborhood window comprising a center pixel and surrounding pixels in the image matrix, wherein the improvement comprises a method of sequentially loading at least first, second and third rows of the neighborhood window registers with successively generated first, second and third raster scan lines of pixel values to thereby successively access substantially all of the neighborhoods in the image matrix, said method comprising:

• shifting said pixel values through the first row of neighborhood window registers;
• simultaneously loading a random access memory (RAM) with pixel values of at least the first and second scan lines of the image;
• thereafter, addressing a pair of memory locations containing at least the first pixel value of the first and second scan lines, and loading said pixel values into the first window registers of the second and third register rows, respectively, as the first pixel value of the third line is entering the first window register of the first register row;
• analyzing the pixel values contained in the neighborhood window registers;
• and
• subsequently shifting the pixel values to adjacent window registers in each row, addressing a pair of memory locations containing successive pixel values of adjacent scan lines, and loading said addressed pixel values into the first window registers of said second and third register rows as new pixel values are shifted into the first window register of the first row to thereby sequentially access substantially all of the neighborhoods in the image for analysis.