11 - Coordinate Logic Filters: Theory and Applications in Image Analysis

Abstract

This chapter presents the coordinate logic (CL) filters, a new family of nonlinear digital filters based on the execution of coordinate logic operations. Image processing and analysis using CL filters is achieved by executing direct coordinate logic operations among the pixels of a given image. CL filters can be applied to both binary and gray-level images, and are efficient in various 1D and 2D processing applications, as well as in feature extraction tasks. CL filters provide a tool for processing gray-level images as a set of binary images. Therefore, CL based decomposition of such images can be used to extend existing processing and analysis techniques for binary images to gray-level images. More sophisticated CL filters can be designed, depending on the specific requirements of the application, using selected bit planes or applying different structuring elements at each bit level. Processing and compression of gray-level images can be done by running the CL operations on the more significant bit planes, ignoring less significant bit planes.