Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for verifying the establishment of a pattern includes a unit for storing a template of the pattern, a unit for acquiring an image of the established pattern, a first image processing unit to alter at least one of said template and acquired images to produce at least two resultant images, a comparison unit to compare the two resultant images with the other of said template and acquired image and a unit to evaluate the results of each comparison to determine if the established pattern includes a defect. Both gray scale and binary processing and comparisons are disclosed for use as required.

Abstract: An overlap processor receives and temporarily stores a plurality of aligned scan lines. Each scan line is representative of a lane or zone of an image. The processor sequentially reads the plurality of scan lines and then synchronously and selectively outputs the scan lines producing an output comprising one scan line representative of one lane or zone plus a predetermined amount of scan line data from an adjacent lane or zone or both adjacent lanes or zones.

Abstract: A processor comprises a plurality of parallel channels having an upstream end and a downstream end, Each channel comprises a video data bus for continuously transferring video data from the upstream end to the downstream end, a plurality of modules serially connected along the video data bus and a host computer connected to the downstream end of the plurality of channels for receiving the video data. Each module comprises a crossbar switch, a pixel processing element connected to the crossbar switch, a delay resource connected across the crossbar switch and a microprocessor operably integrated within each module for controlling the operation thereof. The microprocessors of each module are serially connected together for transmitting and undertaking commands. The host computer is also connected to the microprocessor of each module for issuing commands for controlling the operation of the processor.