Rapid color-based segmentation in digital image processing

Yaakov M. Engelberg, A. C. Chavel, U. Stroh, Aryeh M. Weiss, Stanley R. Rotman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A necessary part of digital image processing is segmentation of the images into a set of objects which exist on some background. We are interested in a class of objects whose distinguishing characteristic is their color. Such objects occur in many applications, such as microscopy, printing, production line monitoring, etc. In this work, a general method of rapid color-based segmentation is presented. The only hardware requirement is that look up tables (LUT) be available. Most image processing hardware contains either LUTs or processors capable of rapidly performing table lookup. The method presented allows simultaneous application of constraints on both hue and saturation. In addition, it allows for use of different color transformations. As such, it constitutes a general approach to analysis of images consisting of three spectral components. Because of the speed of LUT operations, this approach is suitable for many applications which are time sensitive. The major drawback of using LUTs is that the gray level resolution per color is limited by the size of the LUT. This method was implemented on a Matrox MVP-AT image processor, which is capable of processing 12 bit images (4 bits/color). In many cases, this resolution is adequate, as can be seen from examples which are presented.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
EditorsItzhak Shladov, Yitzhak Weissman, Moshe Oron
PublisherPubl by Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
Pages157-165
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)081941218X
StatePublished - 1 Dec 1993
Externally publishedYes
Event8th Meeting on Optical Engineering on Israel: Optoelectronics and Applications in Industry and Medicine - Tel Aviv, Isr
Duration: 14 Dec 199216 Dec 1992

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume1972
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

Conference8th Meeting on Optical Engineering on Israel: Optoelectronics and Applications in Industry and Medicine
CityTel Aviv, Isr
Period14/12/9216/12/92

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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