Image acquisition and processing engine for computer vision
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an image processor is provided. According to a feature of the present invention, the image processor comprises a CPU arranged and configured to receive an image input, the image input depicting a scene, the CPU being further arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the image input and perform preselected spatio-spectral analysis of the image to create a version of the image input optimized for analysis of the scene.
1 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene; and
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images and create a high dynamic range version of the images for spatio-spectral analysis.
2 . The optical device of claim 1 wherein the optical device comprises a digital camera.
3 . The optical device of claim 1 wherein the optical device comprises a pair of digital cameras arranged and configured to generate stereo pairs of images of the scene for object depth analysis.
4 . The optical device of claim 1 wherein the optical device is operated to generate images of the scene at preselected varying exposures for determining a dynamic range for color values of the high dynamic range version of the images.
4 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene; and
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images, correct chromatic aberration in the images and create a high dynamic range version of the images for spatio-spectral analysis.
5 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
a variable polarizer attached to the lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene at preselected varying polarizer orientations;
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images, and identify lit and shadow conditions as a function of polarizer orientation and to perform preselected preprocessing of the images to create a version of the images optimized for spatio-spectral analysis.
6 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene; and
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images and perform preselected preprocessing of the images to create a version of the images optimized for spatio-spectral analysis.
7 . The optical device of claim 6 wherein the preselected preprocessing is selected from the group consisting of linearization, chromatic aberration correction, and high dynamic range image creation.
8 . The optical device of claim 7 wherein the optical device comprises a camera.
9 . The optical device of claim 7 wherein the optical device comprises a pair of cameras arranged and configured to generate stereo pairs of images of the scene for object depth analysis.
10 . The optical device of claim 7 wherein the optical device comprises a camera and a range sensor.
11 . The optical device of claim 7 wherein the CPU is further arranged and configured to generate an illumination-invariant gradient representation corresponding to the version of the images optimized for spatio-spectral analysis.
12 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene, the image sensor capturing the images in a preselected number of color bands, with the number and respective locations and widths of the color bands being selected to optimize the image for processing; and
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images and perform preselected preprocessing of the images to create a version of the images optimized for spatio-spectral analysis.
13 . The optical device of claim 12 wherein the preselected preprocessing is selected from the group consisting of linearization, chromatic aberration correction, and high dynamic range image creation.
14 . The optical device of claim 13 wherein the optical device comprises a camera.
15 . The optical device of claim 13 wherein the optical device comprises a pair of cameras arranged and configured to generate stereo pairs of images of the scene for object depth analysis.
16 . The optical device of claim 13 wherein the optical device comprises a camera and a range sensor.
17 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene; and
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images and perform preselected preprocessing and spatio-spectral analysis of the images to create a version of the images optimized for analysis of the scene.
18 . The optical device of claim 17 wherein the preselected preprocessing is selected from the group consisting of linearization, chromatic aberration correction, and high dynamic range image creation.
19 . The optical device of claim 17 wherein the spatio-spectral analysis includes material and illumination information for the scene.
20 . The optical device of claim 19 wherein the material and illumination information comprises spectral ratio analysis.
21 . An optical device comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor coupled to the lens, to generate images of a scene; and
a CPU coupled to the image sensor;
the CPU arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the images and perform preselected spatio-spectral analysis of the images to create a version of the images optimized for analysis of the scene.
22 . The optical device of claim 21 wherein the spatio-spectral analysis includes material and illumination information for the scene.
23 . The optical device of claim 22 wherein the material and illumination information comprises spectral ratio analysis.
24 . An image processor, comprising:
a CPU arranged and configured to receive an image input, the image input depicting a scene;
the CPU being further arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the image input and perform preselected spatio-spectral analysis of the image to create a version of the image input optimized for analysis of the scene.
25 . The image processor of claim 24 wherein the spatio-spectral analysis includes material and illumination information for the scene.
26 . The image processor of claim 25 wherein the material and illumination information comprises spectral ratio analysis.
27 . An image processor, comprising:
a CPU arranged and configured to receive an image input, the image input depicting a scene;
the CPU being further arranged and configured to execute a routine to receive the image input and perform preselected preprocessing and spatio-spectral analysis of the image to create a version of the image input optimized for analysis of the scene.
28 . The image processor of claim 27 wherein the preselected preprocessing is selected from the group consisting of linearization, chromatic aberration correction, and high dynamic range image creation.
29 . The image processor of claim 27 wherein the spatio-spectral analysis includes material and illumination information for the scene.
30 . The image processor of claim 29 wherein the material and illumination information comprises spectral ratio analysis.