JPH0222421B

PURPOSE:To extract coarse profile in high speed with a simple constitution, by processing a contrast picture in the unit of picture elements, and using a smoothing operation section and a secondary differentiation operating section comprising a space filter. CONSTITUTION:An analog picture signal in the unit of picture elements inputted from a TV camera 1 is converted into a picture signal of a multiple level at an A/D converter 2 and inputted to the smoothing operation section 3, which uses the space filter comprising a data shift circuit 3-1 storing a prescribed length of data, a multiplication circuit 3-2 multiplying the stored data with a set weight number, an adder 3-3 summing the result all together, and a divider dividing the level increased by the addition so as to be brought into a suitable range, and reduces noise superimposed on the picture data and inputs the result to the secondary differentiation circuit 4. The circuit 4 uses a similar space filter, emphasizes a sudden change in the lightness and inputs the result to a pole extracting circuit 5. The circuit 5 extracts the pole of the picture from the input signal and set it to a picture memory 6. Thus, the profile of the picture is obtained in high speed in synchronizing with the camera 1.