Parallel Array Processors for Digital Image Processing

A major drawback of digital computer image processing is the large computation time required. On the other hand, its flexibility, programmability and computational accuracy make it desirable to use digital processing. Advances in technology of LSI circuitry have now made it possible to increase strongly the computational power of image processing systems by combining many 'micro computers' or processing elements to array processors. We discuss several concepts of connecting such small computers and integrating them into a system, and then concentrate on the 'PEAC' structure which was closely investigated at PFH. Its application to various image-processing methods such as point operations, neighbourhood operations, guided boundary detection using prior knowledge, and object reconstruction from projections are discussed. In almost all applications a speed-up ratio of k can be achieved, where k is the number of processing elements.