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:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1998
Sholin Kyo, Tokyo, JP;
NEC Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image processing apparatus is provided with a linear processor array which includes a plurality of linearly coupled processing elements. The apparatus further includes a plurality of local memories each of which takes a form of one-dimensional pixel data memories. The local memories are respectively assigned to the plurality of processing elements. Further, the local memories are arranged so as to store in combination a two-dimensional pixel image to be processed. A plurality of buffers are respectively assigned to the processing elements. Each buffer stores pixel location information of at least one center pixel from which a unique pixel value is to be propagated if the center pixel exists on a corresponding local memory. With the arrangement mentioned above, in order to accelerate pixel data propagation in the two-dimensional pixel image, a plurality of register units are respectively assigned to the plurality of processing elements. Each register can be accessed by the adjoining processing elements and has first to third memory fields. The first memory field receives the at least one center pixel from the associated buffer. The second memory field stores the unique pixel data. The third memory field stores pixel positions which surround the center pixel and to which the unique pixel data should be propagated.