A chip-set for the generalized Hough transform

This paper describes the architecture of a chip-set that can be adopted in systems for object recognition based on the Generalized Hough Transform (GHT). The targeted applications aim at the real-time localization of two-dimensions objects of arbitrary shape not analytically described: this system has a throughput allowing for real-time operation on standard television signals. The characteristics of the GHT recognition process, aimed at generic bi-dimensional shapes, have been carefully exploited in order to map into silicon this transformation, so far considered too complex for a VLSI implementation. A functional description of the chip-set modules is given; the architectural aspects are analysed, together with the results of the prototyping phase, which addresses the problems of VLSI integration.