The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 28, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 15, 1996
Wai-Chi Fang, San Marino, CA (US);
Timothy J Shaw, Montrose, CA (US);
Jeffrey W Yu, Northridge, CA (US);
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US);
Abstract
The array processor includes a grid of individual morphological processing elements formed on a VLSI chip. Each element of the grid includes a photo-detector for directly sensing a pixel of an image projected upon the chip. A signal generated by the photo-detector is sensed by a threshold circuit which outputs a binary value having a value depending upon the intensity of the light detector by the photo-detector. Each element also includes morphological processing circuitry for manipulating the binary value received from the threshold detector in accordance with predetermined morphological processing operations and in accordance with binary values received from adjacent processing elements. After modification of the binary value by application of one or more morphological processing operations, the binary value of each processing element is used to control a respective LCD element for displaying a pixel of a modified image. In this manner, all pixels of a modified image are output in parallel. By implementing the photo-detector, morphological processing circuitry and LCD output all on a VLSI chip, the array processor is capable is achieving real-time processing of two-dimensional images. An embodiment is also described wherein electrical output, rather than an LCD output, is provided.