초록 ▼

The invention provides a fast, computationally inexpensive, and highly accurate method and apparatus for edge detection in a digital image, even for edges that are not substantially parallel to the axes of the pixel grid, by exploiting computationally inexpensive estimates of gradient magnitude and

The invention provides a fast, computationally inexpensive, and highly accurate method and apparatus for edge detection in a digital image, even for edges that are not substantially parallel to the axes of the pixel grid, by exploiting computationally inexpensive estimates of gradient magnitude and direction. In particular, the method includes the steps of: estimating gradient magnitude and direction at a plurality of regularly-spaced pixel points in the image so as to provide a plurality of estimates of gradient magnitude and direction, each such estimate being associated with a respective gradient point of a regularly-spaced gradient grid; using gradient direction associated with each gradient point to select a respective set of neighboring gradient points; comparing gradient magnitude associated with each gradient point with each gradient magnitude of the respective set of neighboring gradient magnitudes so as to determine which of the gradient magnitudes is a local maximum in approximately the gradient direction; and using the local maximum of gradient magnitude and a set of neighboring gradient magnitudes to determine an interpolated edge position along a one-dimensional gradient magnitude profile. Another aspect of the invention for providing two-dimensional edge position interpolation further includes the step of determining a plane position line normal to the gradient direction of a gradient point associated with the local maximum of gradient magnitude, the plane position line also passing through the interpolated edge position, along which plane position line at least one two-dimensional interpolated position of the edge can be determined.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for detection and sub-pixel location of edges in a digital image, said digital image including a plurality of pixel values, each pixel value being associated with a respective pixel point of a regularly-spaced pixel grid, said apparatus comprising:a gradient estimator for estimating

1. An apparatus for detection and sub-pixel location of edges in a digital image, said digital image including a plurality of pixel values, each pixel value being associated with a respective pixel point of a regularly-spaced pixel grid, said apparatus comprising:a gradient estimator for estimating gradient magnitude and gradient direction at a plurality of regularly-spaced gradient points in said digital image, so as to provide a plurality of estimates of gradient magnitude and gradient direction, each said estimate of gradient magnitude and gradient direction being associated with a respective gradient point of a regularly-spaced gradient grid; a peak detector, cooperative with said gradient estimator, operating such that gradient direction associated with each gradient point is used to select a respective set of neighboring gradient points, and operating such that gradient magnitude associated with each gradient point is compared with each gradient magnitude of said respective set of neighboring gradient magnitudes so as to determine which of said gradient magnitudes is a local maximum of gradient magnitude in approximately said gradient direction; and a sub-pixel interpolator, cooperative with said peak detector, operating such that said local maximum of gradient magnitude and a set of neighboring gradient magnitudes are used to determine an interpolated edge position along a one-dimensional gradient magnitude profile including a gradient point associated with said local maximum of gradient magnitude and each gradient point associated with said set of neighboring gradient magnitudes.