LOGICAL LINEAR OPERATORS FOR IMAGE CURVES

We propose a language for designing image measurement operators suitab le for early vision, We refer to them as logical/linear (L/L) operator s, since they unify aspects of linear operator theory and Boolean logi c, A family of these operators appropriate for measuring the low-order differential structure of image curves is developed, These L/L, opera tors are derived by decomposing a linear model into logical components to ensure that certain structural preconditions for the existence of an image curve are upheld, Tangential conditions guarantee continuity, while normal conditions select and categorize contrast profiles. The resulting operators allow for coarse measurement of curvilinear differ ential structure (orientation and curvature) while successfully segreg ating edge-and line-like features, By thus reducing the incidence of f alse-positive responses, these operators are a substantial improvement over (thresholded) linear operators which attempt to resolve the same class of features.