FOUNDATIONS OF SEMI-DIFFERENTIAL INVARIANTS

This paper elaborates the theoretical foundations of a semi-differential framework for invariance. Semi-differential invariants combine coordinates and their derivatives with respect to some contour parameter at several points of the image contour, thus allowing for an optimal trade-off between identification of points and the calculation of derivatives. A systematic way of generating complete and independent sets of such invariants is presented. It is also shown that invariance under reparametrisation can be cast in the same framework. The theory is illustrated by a complete analysis of 2D affine transformations. In a companion paper (Pauwels et al. 1995) these affine semi-differential invariants are implemented in the computer program FORM (Flat Object Recognition Method) for the recognition of planar contours under pseudo-perspective projection.