JPH07124121A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce memory capacity required for the storage of an aperture mask image in the same shape. CONSTITUTION:Image memory 2 in which a digitized fundus oculi image is stored, an aperture mask storage part 3 in which the aperture mask image is stored, and a feature storage part 4 in which the feature of information with respect to the aperture mask image of an individual image is stored as numeric value data are connected to an image arithmetic part 1, and the output of the image arithmetic part 1 is connected to a monitor 5 which displays an image and data. The aperture mask image can be managed in a numeric value by storing the shape of the aperture mask image by the aperture mask image storage part 3, and storing the feature of the aperture mask image as the numeric value data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for calculating an image having a mask portion by digital image processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an aperture mask image A as shown in FIG. 9 is imprinted on a fundus image obtained by photographing a fundus image E in order to clarify a contrast between an angle of view and a photographing region on a retina at the time of photographing. It is like this. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of fundus images are combined and combined by digital image processing or the like to create a panoramic image with a wide angle of view, FIG.
In the portion where the aperture mask images are overlapped with each other, a part of the fundus image E arranged below becomes invisible as shown in FIG.

Also, when performing histogram conversion or filter processing on one image, processing that considers the influence of the aperture mask image in advance, for example, processing is performed using information of the area that does not include the aperture mask image. If you do not, you will not get good results.

In order to prevent these problems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 193026 discloses a method in which the shape of the aperture mask image of the fundus image is stored in another storage means and the aperture mask image is removed by using this shape of the aperture mask image before processing.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional example, when an image whose magnification is changed by image processing or an image whose position is moved or rotated is used as an image to be processed, an aperture mask image for each is obtained. If prepared in the storage means, a very large amount of memory capacity is required.

Further, when many aperture mask images are stored in one storage means, there is a problem that management becomes complicated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device in which the memory capacity required for storing aperture mask images of the same shape is reduced.

[0008]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object stores an image storing means for storing an image having at least one mask portion and a shape of the mask portion. And a feature storage unit for storing the features of the information of the mask portion as numerical data.

[0009]

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described structure, the mask image storage means stores the shape of the mask, and the characteristic storage means stores the characteristics of the mask image as numerical data. Manage with.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of an embodiment,
The image calculation unit 1 includes an image memory 2 for storing a digitized fundus image, an aperture mask image storage unit 3 for storing an aperture mask image A as shown in FIG. 2, and information on the aperture mask image of each image. A feature storage unit 4 that stores the features as numerical data is connected, and the output of the image calculation unit 1 is connected to a monitor 5 that displays images and data.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the embodiment. First, in step 11, a fundus image obtained from a CCD camera, a 35 mm film scanner or the like connected to a fundus camera (not shown) is stored as digital data in an image memory. 2, the shape of the aperture mask image of the fundus image is input to the feature storage unit 4 in step 12.

This input procedure will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4. The operator determines the shape of the aperture mask image of the input fundus image by using an input means such as a mouse or a keyboard not shown in step 21. Specify. This designation is made by inputting the name, ID, etc. of the aperture mask image, or by selecting from a group of aperture mask image candidates. Further, it is also possible to perform pattern matching on the aperture mask image extracted by the binarization process and automatically set the shape of the aperture mask image without the operator's designation.

Next, in step 22, step 21
Digitize the features of the aperture mask image specified by.
When digitizing the features, first, the input fundus image is binarized, and the aperture mask image is extracted. Furthermore, when using an oval aperture mask image A as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the height H, the diameter φ of the circle, and the inclination θ may be calculated from the extracted aperture mask image A.

In some images, the boundary between the fundus oculi image E and the aperture mask image A becomes unclear, which may make separation by the binarization process difficult. The features may be calculated by separating the aperture mask image A by manually designating the boundary portion from the input means. In addition, since the type of the feature to be calculated differs depending on the shape of the aperture mask image A, step 22
Is digitized only for the characteristic items set in advance according to the shape of the aperture mask image A.

As shown in FIG. 6, the calculated feature value is used in step 23 as an image identifier such as an image ID in the fundus image input in step 11, and a mask identifier such as a mask ID indicating the shape of the aperture mask image. With
It is converted into a predetermined unit and registered in the feature storage unit 4. The unit to be converted may be set in advance or may be selected from the input means when inputting. Furthermore, when inputting another fundus image, steps 11 to 11 in FIG.
Step 12 is repeated.

Next, in step 13, the input means is used to select a fundus image to be subjected to processing such as bonding and combining from the fundus images stored in the image memory 2. The information of the aperture mask image A corresponding to the selected image to be processed is read out from the feature storage unit 4 automatically in step 14 or by designation from the input means, and is synthesized using this feature in step 15. Generate an aperture mask image.

To generate a concrete aperture mask image,
First, the shape of the aperture mask image is specified by the mask identifier, and the shape of the aperture mask image is determined. In the example of FIG. 5, numerical values such as the height H, the diameter φ of the circle, and the inclination θ may be used to determine the aperture mask image. The aperture mask image generated in this way is subjected to image processing such as bonding synthesis processing and filter processing in step 16.

For example, in the case of performing the stitching synthesis processing, the aperture mask image A is subtracted before performing the synthesis so that the aperture mask image A as shown in FIG.
It is possible to generate a clear synthetic image with no hidden portion.

In the embodiment, the oval type aperture mask image has been described as an example, but the same effect can be obtained by using the aperture mask image A of various shapes such as a circular shape as shown in FIG. Of course, it can be obtained.

Further, in the embodiment, the information of the aperture mask image A is registered in the feature storage section 4 for the image input from the external device to the image memory 2, but the invention is not limited to this. For the image generated by the processing such as the affine transformation, the information of the aperture mask image A can be similarly registered in the feature storage unit 4.

[0021]

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention registers many aperture mask images numerically by registering the information of the aperture mask image in the image including the aperture mask image in advance as a digitized feature. Since it can be managed by, the memory capacity can be reduced. Further, there is also an effect that the header information and the like required when managing the aperture mask image as an image becomes unnecessary and the management becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an aperture mask image.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a registration procedure of aperture mask information.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of characteristics of aperture mask information.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of information registered in a feature storage unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an image subjected to a stitching synthesis process using a fundus image from which an aperture mask image has been removed.

FIG. 8 is a front view of another aperture mask image.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a fundus image including an aperture mask image.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image in which a fundus image including a conventional aperture mask image is combined and combined.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Calculation Section 2 Image Memory 3 Aperture Mask Image Storage Section 4 Feature Storage Section 5 Monitor A Aperture Mask Image

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image storage means for storing an image having at least one mask portion, a mask image storage means for storing the shape of the mask portion, and a characteristic for storing the information characteristic of the mask portion as numerical data. An image processing apparatus including a storage unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image having the mask portion is a fundus image. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising movement conversion means for moving the mask portion. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising rotation conversion means for rotating the mask portion. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising magnification conversion means for converting the mask portion in magnification.