Environmental Research Institute of Michigan

Other

University of Michigan

Veridian Erim International, Inc.

Environmental Research Institute

Research Environmental/institute of Michigan

Robert M Lougheed

Stanley R Sternberg

William O Dargel

David L McCubbrey

Ralph E Richardson

Trevor N Mudge

Kirk Luckscheiter

Robin A Rutenbar

James Beyer

A system assists the driver of a motor vehicle to travel within a designated driving lane defined by one or more lane boundaries. The lane boundary is sensed as the vehicle moves within the lane while monitoring the position of the vehicle relative to the lane boundary. The operation of the vehicle is then adjusted as a function of the proximity of the vehicle to the lane boundary. In one embodiment, the operation of the vehicle is affected by adjusting the functioning of the steering wheel, preferably by providing tactile feedback which causes the driver to experience a virtual change in lane elevation as the vehicle approaches the lane boundary. In the preferred embodiment, the tactile feedback causes the vehicle operator to experience the lane as having a depression with sloping sidewalls. Where the lane boundaries are defined by visual lane markers, the lane-boundary sensor preferably takes the form of a video camera to image the lane markers.

Method and apparatus for prompting a motor vehicle operator to remain within a lane

A computer system and method for repairing address blocks and ZIP codes numerical groups before segmentation of the ZIP code in an optical character recognizer. The system repairs the image based upon classification of the image as normal or otherwise. If the class is otherwise, background inclusions and gaps are filled in. If the class is normal, small noise pixel elements are eliminated. Once the ZIP code is located, non-horizontal and horizontal gaps are filled in between strokes and small strokes. The amount of dilation of the strokes and small strokes depends on the size of the strokes. The strokes are dilated and then the dilated area is eroded and shaped to conform to the original strokes. The repair connects strokes before segmentation of the ZIP code block into individual digits.

Method for repairing images for optical character recognition performing

A cellular processing system for analyzing an image comprising a matrix of points employs an image memory for storing digital data signals representative of each of the points, a plurality of special function processing units, each adapted to perform a specific operation on one or more images, and data bus means for selectively distributing image data from the image memory to one or more preselected function processors for processing in a cascaded fashion and returning the processed data signals back to image memory. The special function process units include a pipeline processor employing one or more programmable, substantially identical neighborhood transformation stages and an image combiner including means for performing arithmetic, logical, and conditional operations on one or more images.

High speed cellular processing system

A neighborhood transformation stage is designed to perform filtering operations on an image matrix. A group of pixel values in the image matrix are accessed. A series of comparators are used to compare the values of neighboring pixels with the value of a given pixel in the group. The outputs of the comparators are combined to form a vector to address a programmable look-up table. The addressed output of the look-up table is used as a control signal for a selector which either maintains the value of the given pixel or transforms it into another value associated with a neighboring pixel whose value has been ranked in a predetermined order by a rank sorter device used to compare the values of the neighboring pixels with each other.

Neighborhood image processing stage for implementing filtering operations

Serial neighborhood image processing stages, preferably arranged in a pipeline, are used to layout conductor paths on circuits such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuit devices. Pixels associated with areas on the circuit corresponding with source, target, free and blocked cells are encoded with preselected pixel values. The circuit image is then transmitted to the neighborhood transformation stages in a raster scan line format. The stages analyze the pixel values in each neighborhood and transform free cells into digital representations of conductor paths between the source and target.

Routing techniques using serial neighborhood image analyzing system

A pipeline of programmable serial neighborhood stages is used to automatically check for adherence to a set of predetermined geometrical constraints or design rules used in the fabrication of electronic components such as integrated circuit devices. In a disclosed embodiment, bit-map representations of several IC masks are superimposed in one composite image matrix for processing in the pipeline. Advantages in processing speed, especially for design rule checking requiring data from more than one mask, are obtained since all necessary data is available to the stages in the pipeline.

Design rule checking using serial neighborhood processors

A system for analyzing images represented by a serial stream of digital electrical signals corresponding to values of pixels in a matrix of points constituting an image. The system includes a pipeline of substantially identical neighborhood transformation stages. Each stage includes a processor portion for analyzing the pixel values and a memory portion communicating with the processor portion for sequentially providing a window of neighboring pixels to the processor for analysis. A central programmable controller communicates with the pipeline over a single communication link which provides both the pixel value data to the pipeline and transformation control instructions to the processor portions of each stage. The memory portion preferably includes a random access memory which serves as a line storage device which may be readily adjusted to accommodate different raster scan line lengths from various image sensors. Each stage includes improved logic circuitry capable of performing a wide variety of analyses on both two-dimensional image data represented by binary pixel values and three-dimensional image data represented by multi-valued pixel values. Image border or off-image detection circuitry is also disclosed which is capable of detecting nonlinear boundaries for the image matrix.

Neighborhood transformation logic circuitry for an image analyzer system

Dynamic data generator circuitry is disclosed for use in an image analyzer system. The system includes a plurality of storage devices for temporarily storing a neighborhood in the image matrix comprised of a central data point and its surrounding points in the matrix. A transformation generator includes neighborhood contribution circuitry for operating on the values of each point in the neighborhood when they are loaded in the storage devices. The maximum value associated with any of the adjusted points in the neighborhood is provided as a transformation output signal. To aid in the maximum value selection process, the value of the central data point in the neighborhood is sensed and used to provide a correction value so that all of the adjusted data points in the neighborhood are within a particular range of values so that the maximum value selection circuitry may accurately identify the data point in the neighborhood truly having the maximum value associated with the image.

Dynamic data correction generator for an image analyzer system

Apparatus for analyzing patterns made up of a matrix of points, with each point being represented by a multi-bit digital electrical signal. The apparatus includes a chain of substantially identical serial neighborhood transformtion stages. Each stage includes a plurality of input lines forming an input data bus, with each line carrying a particular bit in a digital electrical signal. The stage includes an analysis circuit portion for analyzing the pattern represented by the digital electrical signals. Selector means coupled to the input data bus are provided for selecting particular bits in the data signal for analysis by each stage. A central controller coupled to the selector means controls the selection of the particular bits in the data signal to be analyzed by each stage.

Bit enable circuitry for an image analyzer system

An image analyzer system includes a pipeline of individually programmable neighborhood transformation stages. Programming of the stages is accomplished by way of coded command signals which are either of a local or global type. Global commands propagate down the pipeline to all of the stages whereas local commands are utilized to program only selected stages. Once the stages are programmed the image data may be transferred over the same bus previously utilized to carry the programming instructions. In the preferred embodiment, control lines are employed to indicate whether image data or programming instructions are being transferred over the bus.

Image analyzer with common data/instruction bus

An image analyzer system employs one or more neighborhood transformation stages. The stage operates to access groups of neighboring pixels in an image matrix, analyzes them and generates a transformation output as a result of the analysis. The stage includes a logic circuit which is programmable from a central controller. In the preferred embodiment, each pixel in the neighborhood is analyzed by the logic circuit and temporarily stored until other pixels in the group have been analyzed. The combination of analyzed pixel values form the basis for generating the transformation output for the stage. Preferably, the logic circuit is designed to perform both two dimensional and three dimensional image analyses.

An image analyzer system and a method of analyzing image information contained in serial scan lines of pixels in which some of the pixels have valid data values representing image information while other pixels have invalid data values not representing characteristics of the image to be analyzed. Off image detector circuitry is utilized to generate output signals to neighborhood transformation logic when one or more pixels in a neighborhood contain invalid values. Preferably, the off image detector means monitors the status of a control line which indicates whether valid or invalid pixels are being transferred over a bus to a stage of the image analyzer system. The detector circuitry operates to store the number of valid pixels in subsequent scan lines presented to the stage. This comparison is utilized to detect invalid pixel values which may be contained in each neighborhood.

Off-image detection circuit for an image analyzer

Apparatus for analyzing patterns made up of a matrix of points, with each point being represented by a multi-bit digital electrical signal. The apparatus includes a chain of substantially identical serial neighborhood transformation stages. Each stage includes a plurality of input lines forming an input data bus, with each line carrying a particular bit in a digital electrical signal. The stage includes an analysis circuit portion for analyzing the pattern represented by the digital electrical signals. Selector means coupled to the input data bus are provided for selecting particular bits in the data signal for analysis by each stage. A central controller coupled to the selector means controls the selection of the particular bits in the data signal to be analyzed by each stage.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Robert M Lougheed