System and method for visual searching of objects using lines

摘要

Disclosed is method of visual search for objects that include straight lines. A two-step process is used, which includes detecting straight line segments in an image. The lines are generally characterized by their length, midpoint location, and orientation. Hypotheses that a particular straight line segment belongs to a known object are generated and tested. The set of hypotheses is constrained by spatial relationships in the known objects. The speed and robustness of the method and apparatus disclosed makes it immediately applicable to many computer vision applications.

主权项

1. A method for training a computer vision system to recognize a reference object provided in an electronic form, the method comprising using a computer to perform the steps of:
extracting line segment information from one or more contour points in the reference object by grouping contour points, wherein the line segment information is selected based on the one or more contour points having a curvature at or near zero as a line; storing the line segment information in a computer readable form; processing the line segment information to extract at least one image patch from the reference object, wherein the at least one image patch comprises a sub-image of the reference object that is scale and rotation invariant and includes at least one linear feature formed by the one or more contour points, the at least image patch including at least one end point associated with the linear feature and the at least image patch having a size determined by a distance between the least one end and an end contour point; and storing the at least one image patch in a computer readable form, wherein the at least one image patch is associated with the reference object.