Abstract: A low-latency method for applying image processing steps includes processing and displaying portions of the image as they are received in real-time. In a denoising process, the portion is denoised by selecting pixels, establishing a block centered on each pixel, identifying similar blocks within the portion, and performing a filtering process such as hard thresholding before the entire image is received. Pixels within each block may also be averaged.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to apparatus for measuring height of a surface of liquid in a container utilizing a light source and camera pair disposed above the liquid surface in a predetermined spatial relationship to each other and the container. The light source illuminates the liquid surface with a light pattern and the camera captures the area image of the light pattern in a form of discrete picture elements (pixels) that are processed in an image processor to determine the height of liquid in the container. In another embodiment, the pixels of the area image are further processed to determine attitude of the liquid surface so that the processor may determine the quantity of liquid in the container based on the determined height and attitude of the liquid surface and container geometry data stored in a memory thereof.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for discriminating among ultrasonic echoes reflected from various objects in a tank containing liquid is disclosed. Ultrasonic signals are generated from an ultrasonic transducer into liquid contained in a tank. Ultrasonic echoes are received by the transducer from various objects in the tank including a surface of the liquid in response to the generated ultrasonic signal and are converted into electrical echo signals representative thereof. Data samples of the electrical echo signals are generated and processed by a signal processor using wavelet function processing to generate wavelet coefficients thereof in a wavelet domain. The wavelet coefficients of the echo data samples are used to discriminate the ultrasonic echoes reflected from the various objects in or part of the tank. In one embodiment, echoes reflected from the liquid surface are discriminated from echoes reflected from other objects based on the wavelet coefficients of the echo data samples of each.