Implementing early vision algorithms in analog hardware: an overview

Christof Koch

doi:10.1117/12.45546

9 July 1991 Implementing early vision algorithms in analog hardware: an overview

Christof Koch

Proceedings Volume 1473, Visual Information Processing: From Neurons to Chips; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.45546
Event: Orlando '91, 1991, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

In the last ten years, significant progress has been made in understanding the first steps in visual processing. Thus, a large number of algorithms exist that locate edges, compute disparities, estimate motion fields and find discontinuities in depth, motion, color and intensity. However, the application of these algorithms to real-life vision problems has been less successful, mainly because the associated computational cost prevents real-time machine vision implementations on anything but large-scale expensive digital computers. We here review the use of analog, special-purpose vision hardware, integrating image acquisition with early vision algorithms on a single VLSI chip. Such circuits have been designed and successfully tested for edge detection, surface interpolation, computing optical flow and sensor fusion. Thus, it appears that real-time, small, power-lean and robust analog computers are making a limited comeback in the form of highly dedicated, smart vision chips.

Citation Download Citation

Christof Koch "Implementing early vision algorithms in analog hardware: an overview", Proc. SPIE 1473, Visual Information Processing: From Neurons to Chips, (9 July 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.45546

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