Generating an erosion image utilizing parallel pixel processing

Abstract

An erosion image is generated from an original digital image utilizing a processing image (b) and a target image (T), where each pixel in the target image is processed in parallel. The process entails, for each target pixel, i) determining coordinate values for the target pixel, ii) determining a surrounding pixel area for the target pixel, iii) and processing each pixel in the surrounding pixel area to determine whether or not to updated the value of the target pixel. In processing each surrounding pixel, a determination is made whether the pixel has a value of 1. If not, then the next surrounding pixel is processed. If so, then a determination is made which pixel element of a structuring element overlays the target pixel, and whether that SE pixel has a value of 1. If so, then the value of the target pixel is updated. If not, then the next pixel in the surrounding pixel area is processed. Once the target pixel has been updated a set number of times to a predetermined value (e.g., 2), the processing of the remaining surrounding pixels is terminated. After all target pixels have been processed, an output image is obtained by setting target pixels having a value of 2 to a binary value of 1, and setting the other pixels to a binary value of 0. The resultant output image is an erosion image that is then output.