Image processing apparatus

A signal processing system comprising:

• detecting means for detecting portions of an image and producing signals each corresponding to respective portions of the image;
• a plurality of processing means, each processing means including a first interface for receiving a combination of the signals corresponding to respective portions of the image from said detecting means, a receiving buffer for storing said combination of signals from said first interface means, a programmable processor connected to receive said combination of signals from said first interface means for performing a predetermined processing which is a function of said combination of signals and at least one quantity which is selectable in accordance with a desired image processing, a result buffer for storing a result of the predetermined processing produced by the processor and a second interface for transmitting the stored processing result;
• and
• output means for outputting the processing result transmitted through said second interface.

A signal processing system comprising:

• a plurality of input devices for inputting respective signals;
• a plurality of processing means, each processing means including a first interface for receiving a combination of the respective signals from a plurality of said input devices, an input buffer for storing data corresponding to said combination of signals from said first interface, a programmable processor connected to receive said combination of signals from said first interface for performing a predetermined processing which is a function of the respective signals and at least one quantity which is selectable in accordance with a desired image processing, a result buffer for storing a result of the predetermined processing and a second interface for transmitting the stored processing result;
• and
• an output device for outputting the processing result transmitted through said second interface as data corresponding to said signals, wherein at least one of the input devices is coupled to supply an output in common to at least two processors.

A signal processing system comprising:

• a plurality of input devices for inputting respective signals;
• a plurality of processing devices, each processing device including a programmable processor coupled to a combination of said input devices to receive respective signals from said combination of input devices for performing a predetermined processing which is a function of the respective signals and at least one quantity which is selectable in accordance with a desired image processing;
• and
• an output device for outputting a processing result of the predetermined processing as data corresponding to said signals, wherein at least one of the input devices is coupled to supply an output in common to at least two processors.

A signal processing system comprising:

• a plurality of input devices for inputting respective signals;
• a plurality of processing devices, each processing device including a first interface for receiving a combination of the signals from a plurality of said input devices, a receiving buffer for storing said combination of signals from said first interface, a programmable processor connected to receive said combination of signals from said first interface for performing a predetermined processing which is a function of the respective signals and at least one quantity which is selectable in accordance with a desired image processing, a result buffer for storing a result of the predetermined processing and a second interface for transmitting the stored processing result, wherein at least one of said input devices is connected to supply an output in common to at least two of said processors for supplying a signal in common to the first interfaces therein;
• and
• an output circuit for outputting the processing result transmitted through said second interface as data corresponding to said signals.

A signal processing system comprising:

• a plurality of input devices for inputting respective signals;
• a plurality of programmable processors, each processor being coupled to a combination of the input devices to receive the respective signals from a plurality of said input devices for performing a predetermined processing which is a function of said signals and at least one quantity which is selectable in accordance with a desired image processing, wherein at least one of said input devices is connected to at least two of said processors for supplying a signal in common to the two processors;
• and
• an output circuit for outputting the processing result as data representing features of the input signals.

A signal processing system comprising:

• an input device for inputting data which includes a plurality of data portions;
• a plurality of programmable processors, each processor being connected to receive data representing a combination of data portions for producing a signal by performing a predetermined processing which is a function of the combination of data portions and at least one quantity which is selectable in accordance with a desired image processing;
• a plurality of output devices connected to said plurality of processors for outputting data corresponding to said signals produced by said processors;
• and
• wherein at least one of said processors is connected to receive a combination of signals from at least two of said processors.

An image processing system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of detecting means for detecting an image of an object to be recognized with each detecting means producing an output signal which is a function of at least part of said image;
• (b) a plurality of first processing means, each processing means including a programmable processor corresponding to a different one of the plurality of detecting means and being responsive to a different combination of output signals including output signals from the corresponding detecting means and at least one detecting means adjacent thereto, each of said first processing means being operationally independent and detecting a first level of degree of discrimination of a part of the image;
• and
• (c) a plurality of second processing means, each including a programmable processor responsive to a different combination of output signals from processors in said first processing means for detecting a second level of degree of discrimination of a part of said image.