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VISION-LIST Digest 1990 08 09
Vision-List Digest Thu Aug 09 14:11:54 PDT 90
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Today's Topics:
Suppliers of real time digital video display equipment ??
Gould image processor for trade
A bug in PBM software ( .pcx => pbm)
Research Associate post in Neural Networks and Image Classification
New book
CVPR-91 CALL FOR PAPERS
Vision Conference
Summary of Computer Controllable Lenses (long)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 90 09:17:24 +0200
From: jonh@tele.unit.no
Subject: Suppliers of real time digital video display equipment ??
Hi!
Does anybody know of any suppliers of equipment for
real time display of digitized video sequences? Here is some
background:
Our signal processing group has for some time been involved in
in research work in still image coding and to a lesser extent in coding
of image sequences. As we are planning to increase our activities
in the coding of image sequences, we are contemplating on acquiring equipment
for real time display digitized sequences, both monochrome and color.
All the coding algoriths will be runnning on a network of SUN SPARC stations.
We are planning to work on various image formats ranging from 352x288 pels
and up to HDTV resolution and at various frame rates.
Also, we would prefer equipment that is based on RAM rather
than real-time disks.
Any advice would be greately appreciated!
John Haakon Husoy
The Norwegian Institute of Technology
Department of Electical and Computer Engineering
7034 Trondheim - NTH
NORWAY
email: jonh@tele.unit.no
tel: ++ 47 + 7 + 594453
fax: ++ 47 + 7 + 944475
------------------------------
Date: 8 Aug 90 16:40:35 GMT
From: hughes@azroth.csee.usf.edu (Ken Hughes)
Subject: Gould image processor for trade
Organization: University of South Florida, College of Engineering
The department of Computer Science and Engineering here has a Gould IP8400
image processor that they are considering decomissioning and selling. It
was suggested to us that instead of selling this system we might consider
trading it with another organization for a mobile robot platform somewhere
along the lines of a Cybermation robot. If you or someone you know
might be interested in stch a trade, please contact me via e-mail.
Ken Hughes (hughes@sol.csee.usf.edu) | "If you were happy every day of
sysadm (root@sol.csee.usf.edu) | your life you wouldn't be human,
Dept of Comp Sci and Eng | you'd be a game show host."
University of South Florida | Winona Ryder, in "Heathers"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 90 20:03:07 GMT
From: brian@ucselx.sdsu.edu (Brian Ho)
Subject: A bug in PBM software ( .pcx => pbm)
Organization: San Diego State University Computing Services
I have found a bug (may not appear in other system) in the PBM software.
The bug is in the program which converts a .PCX (paint brush image format)
to a Pbm portable bitmap.
The bug (very small) appear at line 102 in program "pcxtopbm.c" which is
under /pbmplus/pbm/. The orignal code read :
if (b & 0xC0 == 0xC0)
..
..
However, some system (e.g. Sun 3/50) does not like this. It miss interpret it
as
if (b & (OxCO == 0xC0)
..
..
Therefore, I have simply put a parentesis around the '&' clause
if ((b & OxC0) == 0xC0)
..
..
and it works Great!!!!!!!
I don't if it (the bug) appears in other system.. keep me posted...
my E-mail address is
brian@yucatec.sdsu.edu
eden@cs.sdsu.edu
------------------------------
Date: 6 Aug 1990 12:35:37 GMT
From: austin@minster.york.ac.uk
Subject: Research Associate post in Neural Networks and Image Classification
University of York
Departments of Computer Science, Electronics and Psychology
Research Associate post in
Neural Networks and Image Classification
Applications are invited for a three year research associ-
ateship within the departments of Computer Science, Elec-
tronics and Psychology on a SERC image interpretation
research initiative. Applicants should preferably have pro-
gramming and research experience of image interpretation,
neural networks and psychology.
The project is aimed at the development of neural models of
classification tasks and involves characterizing the
processes involved in learning and applying classification
skills in clinical screening tasks. A major aim is to
develop models based on current advances in neural networks.
Salaries will be on the 1A scale ( 11,399 --- 13495).
Informal enquiries may be made to Dr. Jim Austin (0904
432734, email: austin@uk.ac.york.minster). Further particu-
lars may be obtained from The Registrar's Department,
University of York, Heslington, York, YO1 5DD, UK to whom
three copies of a curriculum vitae should be sent. The clos-
ing date for applications is 24 Aug 1990. Please quote
reference number J2.
August 6, 1990
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 90 09:47:36 PDT
From: shapiro@lillith.ee.washington.edu (Linda Shapiro)
Subject: new book
One more entry in the vision books category. A new vision book by
Robert Haralick and Linda Shapiro is being completed this summer. It
will be published by Addison-Wesley. The following is the table of
contents.
COMPUTER AND ROBOT VISION
Table of Contents
1. Computer Vision Overview
2. Binary Machine Vision: Thresholding and Segmentation
3. Binary Machine Vision: Region Analysis
4. Statistical Pattern Recognition
5. Mathematical Morphology
6. Neighborhood Operators
7. Conditioning and Labeling
8. The Facet Model
9. Texture
10. Image Segmentation
11. Arc Extraction and Segmentation
12. Illumination Models
13. Perspective Projection Geometry
14. Analytic Photogrammetry
15. Motion and Surface Structure
from Time Varying Image Sequences
16. Image Matching
17. The Consistent Labeling Problem
18. Object Models and Matching
19. Knowledge--Based Vision
20. Accuracy
21. Glossary of Computer Vision Terms
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 1990 10:43:32 PDT
From: Gerard Medioni <medioni%iris.usc.edu@usc.edu>
Subject: CVPR-91 CALL FOR PAPERS
CALL FOR PAPERS
IEEE COMPUTER SOCIETY CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER VISION AND PATTERN RECOGNITION
Maui Marriott on Kaanapali Beach
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
June 3-6, 1991
GENERAL CHAIR:
Shahriar Negahdaripour, Department of Electrical Engineering
Department, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822,
E-mail: shahriar@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu
PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS:
Berthold K.P. Horn, MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab, 545 Technology
Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, E-mail: bkph@ai.mit.edu
Gerard Medioni, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent,
232 Powell Hall, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089,
E-mail: medioni@iris.usc.edu
LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS CHAIR:
Tep Dobry, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of
Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, E-mail tep@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
N. Ahuja A. Blake K. Ikeuchi J. Malik R. Szeliski
N. Ayache A. Bovik K. Kanatani J. Mundy D. Terzopoulos
D. Ballard E. Delp C. Koch R. Nevatia W. Thompson
H. Baker K. Ganapathy C. Liedtke H. Samet A. Yuille
B. Bhanu D. Huttenlocher J. Little B. Schunck S. Zucker
THE PROGRAM
The program consists of high quality contributed papers on all aspects
of computer vision and pattern recognition. Papers will be
refereed by the members of the program committee. Accepted papers will
be presented as long papers in a single track, short papers in two
parallel tracks, and poster papers.
PAPER SUBMISSION
Four copies of complete papers should be sent to Gerard Medioni at the address
given above by November 12, 1990. The paper should include two title
pages, but only one containing the names and addresses of the authors, to
permit an anonymous review process. Both title pages should contain the title
and a short (up to 200 words) abstract. Authors MUST restrict the
length of the papers to 30 pages, which includes everything, meaning the two
title pages, text (double-spaced), figures, tables, bibliography, etc.
Authors will be notified of acceptance by February 15, 1991. Final
camera-ready papers, typed on special forms, will be due no later than March
15, 1991.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Please write to:
CVPR-91, The Computer Society of IEEE, 1730 Massachusetts Ave, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20036-1903.
------------------------------
Date: 9 Aug 90 16:17:29 GMT
From: colin@nrcaer.UUCP (Colin Archibald)
Subject: Vision Conference
Keywords: Call for Papers
Organization: NRCC-Aeroacoustics, Ottawa, Ontario
V i s i o n I n t e r f a c e ' 9 1
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3-7 June 1991
CALL FOR PAPERS
Vision Interface '91 is the fifth Canadian Conference devoted to
computer vision, image processing, and pattern recognition. This is
an annual conference held in various Canadian cities and is sponsored
by the Canadian Image Processing and Pattern Recognition Society. The 1991
conference will be held in Calgary, Alberta, June 3-7 1991 in conjunction
with Graphics Interface '91.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Four copies of a Full Paper due: 31 Oct. 1990
Tutorial Proposals due: 15 Nov. 1990
Authors Notified: 1 Feb. 1991
Cover Submissions due: 1 Feb. 1991
Final Paper due: 29 Mar. 1991
TOPICS:
Contributions are solicited describing unpublished research results and
applications experience in vision, including but not restricted to the
following areas:
Image Understanding and Recognition Modeling of Human Perception
Speech Understanding and Recognition Specialized Architecture
Computer Vision VLSI Applications
Image Processing Realtime Techniques
Robotic Perception Industrial Applications
Pattern Analysis & Classification Biomedical Applications
Remote Sensing Intelligent Autonomous Systems
Multi-sensor Data Fusion Active Perception
Four copies of full papers should be submitted to the Program Co-chairmen
before Oct.31 1990. Include with the paper full names, addresses, phone
numbers, fax numbers and electronic mail addresses of all the authors. One
author should be designated "contact author"; all subsequent correspondence
regarding the paper will be directed to the contact author. The other
addresses are required for follow-up conference mailings, including the
preliminary program.
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION: SUBMIT PAPERS TO:
Wayne A. Davis Colin Archibald and Emil Petriu
General Chairman VI '91 Program Co-chairmen
Department of Computing Science Laboratory for Intelligent Systems
University of Alberta National Research Council
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
T6G 2H1 K1A 0R6
Tel: 403-492-3976 Tel: 613-993-6580
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 90 14:17:40 BST
From: Alan McIvor <bprcsitu!alanm@relay.EU.net>
Subject: Summary of Computer Controllable Lenses
Hi,
I recently placed the following request:
> Subject: Computer Controllable Lenses
>
> Hi,
> We are currently looking for a lens for our vision system with
> computer controllable focus, focal length, and aperture. Do any of you
> know of a source of such lenses? We have found many motorized lenses
> but most have auto-apertures and no feedback of settings.
> I recall several years ago that a company called Vicon made such
> a lens but I don't have any details. Anybody know how to get hold of
> them?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dr Alan M. McIvor
> BP International Ltd ukc!bprcsitu!alanm
> Research Centre Sunbury alanm%bprcsitu.uucp@uk.ac.ukc
> Chertsey Road bprcsitu!alanm@relay.EU.NET
> Sunbury-on-Thames uunet!ukc!bprcsitu!alanm
> Middlesex TW16 7LN Tel: +44 932 764252
> U.K. Fax: +44 932 762999
>
What follows is a summary of the responses that I received.
Many companies make motorized lenses but few make them with
feedback facilities for accurate control of the position. The feedback
is almost invariably provided by potentiometers.
Several compaines make lenses with potentiometer feedback of the
zoom and focus setting but not the aperture. This is either auto-iris or
open-loop. Examples are:
- Cosmicar (Chori America, Inc.)
F. Maliwat
Electronics Division
350 fifth Ave., Suite 3323
New York, N.Y. 10118
(800) 445-4233
(212) 563-3264
Vista Vision Systems
Levanroy House
Deanes Close
Steventon
Oxfordshire OX136SR
UK
tel: +44 235 834466
fax: +44 235 832540
Ernitec Mechatronic Lenses
[Henrik I. Christensen <hic@vision.auc.dk> and Kourosh Pahlavan
<kourosh@ttt1.bion.kth.se> are using these. ]
Ernitec A/S
Fjeldhammervej 17
DK 2610 Rodovre
Denmark
Tel +45 31 70 35 11
Fax +45 31 70 11 55
* Ernitec UK
39/41 Rowlands Road
Worthing
West Sussex BN11 3JJ
tel: 0903 30482
fax: 0903 213333
* Molynx Ltd
Albany Street
Newport
Gwent NP9 5XW
UK
Tel: +44 633 821000
Fax: +44 633 850893
* Vicon Industries, Inc.
525 Broad Hollow Rd.
Melville, NY 11747 USA
Phone: 800-645-9116
[ Chuck Steward <stewardc@turing.cs.rpi.edu> claims that the rotational
accuracy is only 1 degree ]
* Video-Tronic
Lahnstrasse 1
2350 Neumunster 6
Germany
Phone 0 43 21 8 79 0
Fax 0 43 21 8 79 97
Telex 2 99 516 vido d
The only lens that I could find that had potentiometer feedback of
all three axes is:
* TecSec TLZMNDP12575
Vista Vision Systems
Levanroy House
Deanes Close
Steventon
Oxfordshire OX136SR
UK
tel: +44 235 834466
fax: +44 235 832540
Other approaches to the construction of a computer controllable lens
that were suggested are:
* take a normal zoom lens, mount a collar around the
focus sleeve, the aperture sleeve and the zoom barrel separately, and
then turn each collar with a high precision stepper motor.
Chuck Steward <stewardc@turing.cs.rpi.edu> is currrently doing
this.
[ This has the benefit of allowing you to use 35mm camera lenses which
have better optical performance than CCTV lenses]
* from Don Gennery <GENNERY@jplrob.jpl.nasa.gov>
We also recently talked to Mechanical Technology Inc. of Latham, N. Y.,
about the possibility of them making some computer-controlled lenses for us.
* from Lynn Abbott <abbott@vtcpe4.dal.ee.vt.edu>
I assembled a camera system with 2 motorized lenses about 3 years ago
at the Univ. of Illinois, with N. Ahuja. At the time, several companies
sold motorized lenses, but we could not locate any company which
produced a controller for these lenses which would interface with a
host processor.
We located a small company which specialized in dc servo controllers.
This company, TS Products, was willing to customize a pair of motorized
Vicon lenses so that one of their controllers would drive the lens actuators.
This controller accepts commands from a host over an RS-232 line or
via the IEEE-488 bus. They were willing to work with us in specifying
the system, and we were happy with the results.
They were at
TS Products, Inc.
12455 Branford St.
Bldg-22
Arleta, CA 91331 USA
Phone: 818-896-6676
* Use a auto-everything 35mm lens and a lens adaptor.
I have heard that at the Harvard Robotics Lab they use Canon EOS
lenses which include all the motors, etc, and talk to the camera body
via a 4pin serial connection, the protocol for which they have decoded.
* from Shelly Glaser 011 972 3 545 0060 <GLAS@taunivm.earn>
vandalizing an amateur video cam-corder
* use a Sony B-mount teleconferencing lens via a mount adaptor. These
have a serial interface for remote control. Very good optics - broadcast
quality, but quite heavy units.
Canon UK Ltd.,
Canon House, Manor Road,
Wallington, Surrey SM6 OAJ, UK
(081) 773-3173
Fujinon Inc.,
3N, 125 Springvale,
West Chicago, IL 60185
(312) 231-7888
* from Reg Willson <Reg.Willson@ius1.cs.cmu.edu>
A second alternative is to have a motorized lens custom made. Computer
Optics is a small company that will build a motorized lens to your specs,
but we found them to be far too expensive. They quoted us $US 30,000 for
the lens we specified - at which point we decided to build our own.
Computer Optics Inc.,
G. Kane
120 Derry Road,
P.O. Box 7
Hudson, New Hampshire 03051
(603) 889-2116
Vista Vision Systems
Levanroy House
Deanes Close
Steventon
Oxfordshire OX136SR
UK
tel: +44 235 834466
fax: +44 235 832540
Given a controllable lens with DC servo motors and potentiometer
feedback, there is also the question of how to control it. Unfortunately
most available servo motor controllers assume feedback via resolvers or
optical encoders, so are unapplicable. Possible solutions are:
1) Replace the motors on the lens with servo motors with optical encoders
or stepper motors, and use an available controller
- from Reg Willson <Reg.Willson@ius1.cs.cmu.edu>
The current lens we have is a Cosmicar C31211 (C6Z1218M3-2) TV grade zoom
lens (apx $US 560). We replaced the DC servo motors and drive train with AX
series digital micro stepping motors from Compumotor. The stepping motors
have a simple RS232 interface and have far more accuracy and precision than
the DC servo motors they replaced. Unfortunately they're rather expensive
($US 1700 / degree of freedom). We also had to have a machinist build an
assembly for the lens and motors.
Compumotor Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation
5500 Business Park Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(800) 358-9070
(707) 584-7558
- Galil motor controllers for DC Servo motors
Galil Motion Control, Inc.
1054 Elwell Court
Palo Alto, CA 94303
tel: (415) 964-6494
fax: (415) 964-0426
Naples Controls Ltd
White Oriels
Chaddleworth
Berkshire RG16 0EH
UK
tel: 04882 488
fax: 04882 8802
- Digiplan motor controllers for Stepper motors
- Themis 4-axis motor controller for servos
- MDS-330 Servo Interface Card
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
- PeP VMIC intelligent motion controller
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
2) Use a dedicated PID controller for the control loop and a Digital to
Analog convertor in the computer to provide the setpoint (i.e., desired
zoom, focus, aperture) - one per axes.
Example PID controllers are:
RS Servo Control Module
Stock Number 591-663
RS Components, UK.
PVP 142 Linear Servo Amplifier
Naples Controls Ltd
White Oriels
Chaddleworth
Berkshire RG16 0EH
UK
tel: 04882 488
fax: 04882 8802
Example DACs are:
PeP VDAD
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
MDS-330 Servo Interface Card
UKP 1195
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
MDS-620 Analogue Output card
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
BVME240 Analogue Output Module
BVM Limited
Flanders Road
Hedge End, Southampton
SO3 3LG
tel 0703 270770
fax 0489 783589
ACROMAG AVME9210/15
Universal Engineering and Computing Systems
5/11 Tower St
Newtown
Birmingham B19 3UY
tel: 021-359 1749
fax: 021-333 3137
Motorola MVME605
Thame Microsystems
Thame Park Road, Thame
Oxford OX9 3UQ
Tel: 0844 261456
Fax: 0844 261682
Burr-Brown MVP904
Thame Microsystems
Thame Park Road, Thame
Oxford OX9 3UQ
Tel: 0844 261456
Fax: 0844 261682
3) Use an ADC to read the feedback potentiometer and a DAC to provide the
motor drive voltage (via a power amp):
Example ADCs are:
PeP VADI
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
MDS-310
AMC Ltd
Unit 2, Deseronto Industrial Estate
St Mary's Road, Langley, Berks SL3 7EW
tel: (0753) 580660 Fax: (0753)580653
BVME250 Analogue Input Module
BVM Limited
Flanders Road
Hedge End, Southampton
SO3 3LG
tel 0703 270770
fax 0489 783589
ACROMAG AVME9320
Universal Engineering and Computing Systems
5/11 Tower St
Newtown
Birmingham B19 3UY
tel: 021-359 1749
fax: 021-333 3137
Burr-Brown MVP901
Thame Microsystems
Thame Park Road, Thame
Oxford OX9 3UQ
Tel: 0844 261456
Fax: 0844 261682
Example combined systems are (with onboard CPUs):
Burr Brown MPV940 controller + ACX945 Analog I/O module
Thame Microsystems
Thame Park Road, Thame
Oxford OX9 3UQ
Tel: 0844 261456
Fax: 0844 261682
Scan Beam A/S SB100
Scan Beam A/S
Rosendalsvej 17
DK-9560 Hadsard
Tel: +45 98 57 15 99
Fax: +45 98 57 48 87
[this has the advantage of onboard power amps. It is being used by
Henrik I. Christensen <hic@vision.auc.dk> who warns that the
company is unstable.]
BVME347 + IP-DAC + IP-ADC
BVM Limited
Flanders Road
Hedge End, Southampton
SO3 3LG
tel 0703 270770
fax 0489 783589
Dr Alan M. McIvor
BP International Ltd ukc!bprcsitu!alanm
Research Centre Sunbury alanm%bprcsitu.uucp@uk.ac.ukc
Chertsey Road bprcsitu!alanm@relay.eu.net
Sunbury-on-Thames uunet!ukc!bprcsitu!alanm
Middlesex TW16 7LN Tel: +44 932 764252
U.K. Fax: +44 932 762999
------------------------------
End of VISION-LIST
********************
