Centroid integration

A system for identifying the position in an image of a plurality of features in a substantially four-side, four-cornered grid of features, each feature having a centroid, the system comprising:

• a) an image device for providing a digitized image;
• b) a data storage device;
• and
• c) a central processing unit for receiving the digitized image from the image device and which can write to and read from the data storage device, the central processing unit being programmed to:
• i) receive a digitized image from the image device;
• ii) identify the features in the image;
• iii) determine a centroid location and at least one characteristic value for each feature;
• iv) create and record in the data storage device a collapsed image comprising the centroid location and characteristic value for each feature;
• v) place a first integration shape in the collapsed image;
• vi) sum the characteristic values of all features which have their centroid within a predetermined region on either side of the first integration shape;
• vii) step the first integration shape across the collapsed image by a predetermined distance;
• viii) repeat steps (vi) and (vii) until the integration shape has crossed at least a portion of the image for which analysis is desired;
• ix) analyze the summed characteristic values to find peaks therein;
• and
• x) identify and record in the data storage device the locations of the first integration shape corresponding to the peaks as indicating the presence of a pattern in the features in the image that matches the first integration shape.

Data storage media having recorded thereon software that upon installation in a computer and execution of the software will cause the computer to carry out a method of identifying a shape among a plurality of features in an image, the method comprising:

• a) obtaining a digitized image;
• b) identifying the features in the image;
• c) creating a collapsed image by determining a centroid and at least one characteristic value for each feature;
• d) placing a first integration shape in the collapsed image;
• e) summing the characteristic values of all features which have their centroid within a predetermined region on either side of the first integration shape;
• f) stepping the integration shape across the collapsed image by a predetermined distance;
• g) repeating steps (e) and (f) until the integration shape has crossed at least a portion of the image for which analysis is desired;
• h) analyzing the summed characteristic values to find peaks therein, and identifying the locations of the integration shape corresponding to the peaks as indicating the presence of a pattern in the features in the image that matches the first integration shape.