US3624604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image analysis
Assignee: Image Analysing Computers Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-10-30
•
Granted: 1971-11-30
•
Expires: 1990-10-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to image analysis systems which provide for the computation of primary and secondary parameters of detected features in a field of view, typically relating to their geometrical or densitometric properties. The primary parameters relating to each feature are accurately associated therewith by means of a coincidence circuit which generates an anticoincidence pulse immediately following the completion of scanning of each detected feature in the field of view. A first computer generates the primary associated parameters in response to the anticoincidence pulse and a second computer is provided to generate the secondary parameter or parameters from the output from the first computer. The first mentioned computer means may comprise a number of computers operated in parallel synchronism to provide their different outputs simultaneously. Alternatively a single computer may be used which is capable of being switched to perform each of the different functions to generate the primary parameters and the information required for their generation is supplied during a corresponding number of successive intervals of time to the input of the first computer and the output is stored in a corresponding number of signal stores which are all addressed at the anticoincidence point. The switching rate is typically at the frame scan frequency or is at a high multiple of the line scan rate.
Inventors
- 👤 David William Gibbard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An image analysis system capable of supplying at least one secondary associated parameter for each detected feature in a field under analysis, comprising in combination, a source of scanned video signal corresponding to the field, detector means for supplying one or more detected video signals corresponding to detected features in the field, computer means responsive to the detected video signal or signals and controlled by coincidence detector means whereby the information in the computer means is updated at or before the end of each scan intersect with a detected feature and operable to provide two or more different primary associated parameters from the detected video signal or signals for each detected feature, addressing means controlled by said coincidence detector means to recover each priMary associated parameter at a unique point in relation to the associated feature and further computer means responsive to the output of the addressing means to generate the secondary associated parameter therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An image analysis system capable of supplying at least one secondary associated parameter for each detected feature in a field under analysis, comprising in combination, a source of scanned video signal corresponding to the field, detector means for supplying one or more detected video signals corresponding to detected features in the field, computer means responsive to the detected video signal or signals and controlled by coincidence detector means whereby the information in the computer means is updated at or before the end of each scan intersect with a detected feature and operable to provide two or more different primary associated parameters from the detected video signal or signals for each detected feature, addressing means controlled by said coincidence detector means to recover each priMary associated parameter at a unique point in relation to the associated feature and further computer means responsive to the output of the addressing means to generate the secondary associated parameter therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a master timing pulse generator and means for conveying timing pulses to the detector means, the primary parameter computer means, the coincidence detector means, the addressing means and the further computer means to thereby synchronize the operation of said various means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the primary associated parameter computer means is controlled by a single coincidence detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 3 wherein a separate computer is provided to calculate each primary associated parameter and the addressing means comprises gating means in the output of each primary associated parameter computer, said gating means being controlled by the coincidence detector thereby to supply the primary associated parameters simultaneously to the further computer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 4 further comprising signal delay means in some or all of the output signal paths from the primary associated parameter computers thereby to equalize the rise times for the different associated parameter signal paths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of different detectors for applying differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field, means being provided to supply the outputs from the various detectors to respective ones of the associated parameter computers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the primary associated parameter computer means is controlled by a single coincidence detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a separate computer is provided to calculate each primary associated parameter and the addressing means comprises gating means in the output of each primary associated parameter computer, said gating means being controlled by the coincidence detector thereby to supply the primary associated parameters simultaneously to the further computer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 2 wherein a separate computer is provided to calculate each primary associated parameter and the addressing means comprises gating means in the output of each primary associated parameter computer, said gating means being controlled by the coincidence detector thereby to supply the primary associated parameters simultaneously to the further computer means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of different detectors for applying differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field, means being provided to supply the outputs from the various detectors to respective ones of the associated parameter computers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 1 comprising a single associated parameter computer adapted to perform each of n different functions, switch means operative on the computer to change its function, means for delivering each increment of information from each scan intersect with a detected feature to the input of the associated parameter computer means during each of n successive intervals of time, said switch means changing the function of the associated parameter computer means at the end of each successive interval and addressing means comprising a plurality of signal delay devices arranged to provide n signal paths, gating means in each signal path, the time delay introduced by each said signal delay device being such that a unique one of each of the n successive associated parameters generated by the associated parameter computer means appears at the gating means of each signal path at the same inStant in time and means controlling the opening and closing of the gating devices whereby all said gating devices may be opened simultaneously, said means controlling the gating devices being operable in response to a signal derived from the coincidence means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 2 comprising a single associated parameter computer adapted to perform each of n different functions, switch means operative on the computer to change its function, means for delivering each increment of information from each scan intersect with a detected feature to the input of the associated parameter computer means during each of n successive intervals of time, said switch means changing the function of the associated parameter computer means at the end of each successive interval and addressing means comprising a plurality of signal delay devices arranged to provide n signal paths, gating means in each signal path, the time delay introduced by each said signal delay device being such that a unique one of each of the n successive associated parameters generated by the associated parameter computer means appears at the gating means of each signal path at the same instant in time and means controlling the opening and closing of the gating devices whereby all said gating devices may be opened simultaneously, said means controlling the gating devices being operable in response to a signal derived from the coincidence detector means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image analysis system as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of the n separate primary associated parameters is generated by the primary associated parameter computer means during each of n successive complete frame scans and the switching means is arranged to switch the function of the computer means at the end of each frame scan.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image analysis system as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of the n separate primary associated parameters is generated by the primary associated parameter computer means during each of n successive complete frame scans and the switching means is arranged to switch the function of the computer means at the end of each frame scan.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 11 in which the switching means operates at a frequency corresponding to a whole-number multiple of the line scan frequency and the input to the associated parameter computer means includes a plurality of signal delay devices arranged to provide n signal paths between the output of the detector means and the input of the associated parameter computer means such that a signal appearing in the output of the detector means will be applied to the input of the primary associated parameter computer means and during (n - 1 ) successive intervals of time thereafter, each interval corresponding to the time period of the switching frequency of the switching means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising means for generating a warning signal of duration equal to n switching pulses as applied to the switching means, at the instant when an increment of information from a line scan intersect of a detected feature is received in the input to the associated parameter computer means, said warning signal serving to indicate that the associated parameter computer means is busy and cannot receive any other increments of information for the duration thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said switching means resets the associated parameter computer means to the first of its n functions at the end of n successive switching operations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said switching means resets the associated parameter computer means to the first of its n functions at the end of n successive switching operations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said switching means resets the associated parameter computer means to the first of its n functions at the end of n successive switching operations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said switching means resets the associated parameter computer means to the first of its n functions at the end of n successive switching operations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said switching means resets the associated parameter computer means to the first of its n functions at the end of n successive switching operations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said switching means resets the associated parameter computer means to the first of its n functions at the end of n successive switching operations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of different detectors thereby to apply differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field and the outputs from the different detectors are applied to the input to the associated parameter computer means during different ones of each n successive frame scans.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of different detectors thereby to apply differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field and the outputs from the different detectors are applied to the input to the associated parameter computer means during different ones of each n successive frame scans.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of detectors each applying a differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field under analysis and the outputs from the different detectors are applied to different ones of the n input signal paths to the associated parameter computer means whereby the differently detected video signals are applied to the input of the associated parameter computer means at the correct instant in time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of detectors each applying a differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field under analysis and the outputs from the different detectors are applied to different ones of the n input signal paths to the associated parameter computer means whereby the differently detected video signals are applied to the input of the associated parameter computer means at the correct instant in time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the detector means comprises a plurality of detectors each applying a differing detection criteria to the scanned video signal corresponding to the field under analysis and the outputs from the different detectors are applied to different ones of the n input signal paths to the associated parameter computer means whereby the differently detected video signals are applied to the input of the associated parameter computer means at the correct instant in time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the further computer means comprises gating means in the signal path of one primary associated parameter and comparater means in the signal path of another primary associated parameter for comparing said other associated parameter with a predetermined reference and control means responsive to said comparison to open said gate means in the path of said one primary associated parameter provided that the said other associated parameter fulfills criteria imposed by said comparison.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the further computer means comprises gating means in the signal path of one primary associated parameter and comparater means in the signal path of another primary associated parameter for comparing said other associated parameter with a predetermined referenCe and control means responsive to said comparison to open said gate means in the path of said one primary associated parameter provided that the said other associated parameter fulfills criteria imposed by said comparison.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image analysis system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the further computer means comprises gating means in the signal path of one primary associated parameter and comparater means in the signal path of another primary associated parameter for comparing said other associated parameter with a predetermined reference and control means responsive to said comparison to open said gate means in the path of said one primary associated parameter provided that the said other associated parameter fulfills criteria imposed by said comparison.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3177469A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |