FundamentalsofImageProcessingI.ppt

Fundamentals of Image Processing I Computers in Microscopy, 14-17 September 1998 David Holburn University Engineering Department, Cambridge Why Computers in Microscopy? This is the era of low-cost computer hardware Allows diagnosis/analysis of images quantitatively Compensate for defects in imaging process (restoration) Certain techniques impossible any other way Speed reduced specimen irradiation Avoidance of human error Consistency and repeatability Digital Imaging Digital Imaging has moved on a shade . . . Digital Images A natural image is a continuous, 2-dimensional distribution of brightness (or some other physical effect). Conversion of natural images into digital form involves two key processes, jointly referred to as digitisation: Sampling Quantisation Both involve loss of image fidelity i.e. approximations. Sampling Sampling represents the image by measurements at regularly spaced sample intervals. Two important criteria:- Sampling interval distance between sample points or pixels Tessellation the pattern of sampling points The number of pixels in the image is called the resolution of the image. If the number of pixels is too small, individual pixels can be seen and other undesired effects (e.g. aliasing) may be evident. Quantisation Quantisation uses an ADC (analogue to digital converter) to transform brightness values into a range of integer numbers, 0 to M, where M is limited by the ADC and the computer. where m is the number of bits used to represent the value of each pixel. This determines the number of grey levels. Too few bits results in steps between grey levels being apparent. Example For an image of 512 by 512 pixels, with 8 bits per pixel: Memory required = 0.25 megabytes Images from video sources (e.g. video camera) arrive at 25 images, or frames, per second: Data rate = 6.55 million pixels per second The capture of video images involves large amounts of data occurring at high rates. Why Use a Framestore? Framestore Structure