Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically processing visual images electronically so as to permit intelligent machine analysis of the image content. A special distributed logic system architecture facilitates rapid real time image analysis and the production of reaction control signals in a high speed production line environment, for example. Dedicated decision logic is employed to determine in but a single micro-instruction cycle whether a detected corner point of the image should be linked to another already linked chain of such corner points so as to define part of a closed edge contour of the image under examination. This ability to so rapidly classify encoded corner points as either belonging or not belonging to a given set of such corner points which describe a closed edge contour is quite useful in achieving rapid real time image analysis capability.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically processing visual images electronically so as to permit intelligent machine analysis of the image content. A special distributed logic system architecture facilitates rapid real time image analysis and the production of reaction control signals in a high speed production line environment, for example. Dedicated decision logic is employed to determine in but a single microinstruction cycle whether a detected corner point of the image should be linked to another already linked chain of such corner points so as to define part of a closed edge contour of the image under examination. This ability to so rapidly classify encoded corner points as either belonging or not belonging to a given set of such corner points which describe a closed edge contour is quite useful in achieving rapid real time image analysis capability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digitally controlled phase shift network for an analog flux-sensing ferrite phase shifter driver, as would be applied in controlling the phase of individual antenna elements in phased array radar systems. The phase shift network described utilizes analog phase shifters while accepting a digital control input, and provides phase control without need for digital-to-analog converters between the analog phase shifters and their digital inputs. This is accomplished by integrating the volt-time product on the phase shifter secondary windings until the integral reaches a value corresponding to a phase shift increment of predetermined magnitude, dumping the integrator voltage between integrations, counting the number of integrate-and-dump operations to thus yield a digital measure of the phase shift achieved, and comparing such digital count against the digital control input.