LECTURE 4: COMPONENTS OF AN IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM

Digital Image Processing

Dr. Samarth Borkar
Dept. of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.
Goa College of Engineering.

Components of an Image Processing System

As recently as the mid-1980s, numerous models of image processing systems being sold
throughout the world were rather substantial peripheral devices that attached to equally
substantial host computers. Late in the 1980s and early in the 1990s, the market shifted to
image processing hardware in the form of single boards designed to be compatible with
industry standard buses and to fit into engineering workstation cabinets and personal
computers. In addition to lowering costs, this market shift also served as a catalyst for a
significant number of new companies whose specialty is the development of software
written specifically for image processing. Although large-scale image processing systems still
are being sold for massive imaging applications, such as processing of satellite images, the
trend continues toward miniaturizing and blending of general-purpose small computers
with specialized image processing hardware. Figure 4.1 shows the basic components
comprising a typical general-purpose system used for digital image processing. The function
of each component is discussed in the following paragraphs, starting with image sensing.

With reference to sensing, two elements are required to acquire digital images. The
first is a physical device that is sensitive to the energy radiated by the object we wish to
image. The second, called a digitizer, is a device for converting the output of the physical
sensing device into digital form. For instance, in a digital video camera, the sensors produce
an electrical output proportional to light intensity. The digitizer converts these outputs to
digital data. Specialized image processing hardware usually consists of the digitizer just
mentioned, plus hardware that performs other primitive operations, such as an arithmetic
logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations in parallel on entire
images. One example of how an ALU is used is in averaging images as quickly as they are
digitized, for the purpose of noise reduction. This type of hardware sometimes is called a

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front-end subsystem, and its most distinguishing characteristic is speed. In other words, this
unit performs functions that require fast data throughputs (e.g., digitizing and averaging
video images at 30 framess) that the typical main computer cannot handle.

Fig. 4.1. Components of a general purpose Image Processing System

The computer in an image processing system is a general-purpose computer and can range
from a PC to a supercomputer. In dedicated applications, some times specially designed
computers are used to achieve a required level of performance, but our interest here is on
general-purpose image processing systems. In these systems, almost any well-equipped PC-
type machine is suitable for offline image processing tasks. Software for image processing
consists of specialized modules that perform specific tasks. A well-designed package also
includes the capability for the user to write code that, as a minimum, utilizes the specialized
modules. More sophisticated software packages allow the integration of those modules and
general-purpose software commands from at least one computer language. Mass storage
capability is a must in image processing applications. An image of size 1024*1024 pixels, in
which the intensity of each pixel is an 8-bit quantity, requires one megabyte of storage space
if the image is not compressed. When dealing with thousands, or even millions, of images,

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providing adequate storage in an image processing system can be a challenge. Digital storage
for image processing applications falls into three principal categories: (1) short-term storage
for use during processing, (2) on-line storage for relatively fast re-call, and (3) archival
storage, characterized by infrequent access. Storage is measured in bytes (eight bits), Kbytes
(one thousand bytes), Mbytes (one million bytes), Gbytes (meaning giga, or one billion,
bytes), and Tbytes (meaning tera, or one trillion, bytes). One method of providing short-term
storage is computer memory. Another is by specialized boards, called frame buffers, that
store one or more images and can be accessed rapidly, usually at video rates (e.g., at 30
complete images per second).The latter method allows virtually instantaneous image zoom,
as well as scroll (vertical shifts) and pan (horizontal shifts). Frame buffers usually are housed
in the specialized image processing hardware unit shown in Fig.4.1.

Online storage generally takes the form of magnetic disks or optical-media storage. The key
factor characterizing on-line storage is frequent access to the stored data. Finally, archival
storage is characterized by massive storage requirements but infrequent need for access.
Magnetic tapes and optical disks are the usual media for archival applications.

Image displays in use today are mainly color (preferably flat screen) TV monitors. Monitors
are driven by the outputs of image and graphics display cards that are an integral part of the
computer system. Seldom are there requirements for image display applications that cannot
be met by display cards available commercially as part of the computer system. In some
cases, it is necessary to have stereo displays, and these are implemented in the form of
headgear containing two small displays embedded in goggles worn by the user.

Hardcopy devices for recording images include laser printers, film cameras, heat-sensitive
devices, inkjet units, and digital units, such as optical and CD-ROM disks. Film provides the
highest possible resolution, but paper is the obvious medium of choice for written material.
For presentations, images are displayed on film transparencies or in a digital medium if
image projection equipment is used. The latter approach is gaining acceptance as the
standard for image presentations.

Networking is almost a default function in any computer system in use today. Because of the
large amount of data inherent in image processing applications, the key consideration in

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image transmission is bandwidth. In dedicated networks, this typically is not a problem, but
communications with remote sites via the Internet are not always as efficient. Fortunately,
this situation is improving quickly as a result of optical fiber and other broadband
technologies.

Next Session:
DIP Lecture 5 - Elements of visual perception.

References:
1. Digital Image Processing by Rafael C. Gonzalez and Richard E. Woods, Pearson, 2014 (3rd
Edition)
2. Fundamentals of Digital Image Processing by Anil K. Jain, Prentice Hall of India, 2000.
3. Digital image processing by W. K. Pratt, Prentice Hall, 1989.
4. A. Rosenfold and A. C. Kak, Digital image processing, Vols. 1 and 2, Prentice Hall, 1986.
5. Digital Image Processing by S. Sridhar, 2013
6. Digital Image Processing by Ketaki Kshirsagar and Rajeshree Shinde, (SGGS) KATSON
Books, 2018.
7. Digital image processing by S. Jayaraman, S. Esakkirajan and T. Veerakumar, 2013.
8. Digital Image Processing by Sanjay Sharma, KATSON Books, 2017

My lecture notes prepared over the years forms the resource material for this compilation. Most of the material
and figures have been taken from a wide collection of Textbooks, research papers, and review articles published
in journals/proceedings. Although this compilation has been created with utmost determination and hard work
but any kind of constructive criticism are always welcome and gratefully appreciated. All rights reserved with
original contributors. I do not lay any claims to original research therein but what I can claim is the way the
contents have been presented.

~ Dr. Samarth Borkar, Goa College of Engineering. (08092021)