Signal processing disparity resolution

Abstract

A process for signal matching. The process is general and can be applied to matching signals of arbitrary dimension. To implement the process, a suitable discretized description of the two signals to be matched is defined. Such descriptions can be the local signal extrema or any other qualitative signal significant points of interest or features. Allowable feature matches and values for matches are defined, and determined for all potential matches. Matches are confined to the features within defined matching windows and are mapped for each significant point. Within a defined similarity disparity window, a neighborhood of potentially interacting matches are evaluated. Matches within a neighborhood contribute to the decision about the appropriate match for each significant point to determine a composite similarity weighted best value match for each point. Mapping is piecewise continuous. The two signals are matched with disparities therebetween resolved and removed responsive to the best match values. Following the coherence process, the overall process of the present invention provides a superposition of several such piecewise transformations. In an illustrated application domain, a stereo correspondence technique provides for matching of figurally similar three dimensional images, according to a simple no iterative, parallel and local process that can successfully detect disparities of opaque as well as transparent surfaces.