CS401

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Components of an Image
Processing System
Module VI
Components of an Image
Processing System

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 Components of an Image
Processing System
● 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.
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 Components of an Image
Processing System
● 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), that 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 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 frames/s) that the typical main computer cannot
handle. 4
 Components of an 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, sometimes custom
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 off-line image
processing tasks.
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 Components of an Image
Processing System
● 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.
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 Components of an Image
Processing System
● Mass storage capability is a must in image processing
applications. An image of size 1024 x 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,
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 recall, 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 computer7
memory.
 Components of an Image
Processing System
● 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 neccessary to have
stereo displays, and these are implemented in
the form of head-gear containing two small
displays embedded in goggles worn by the user. 8
 Components of an Image
Processing System
● 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.
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 Components of an Image
Processing System
● 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 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.
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