A single chip moment generator for real-time pattern recognition.

We present a fast algorithm and its single chip VLSI implementation for generating moments of 2D digital images for real-time image processing applications. Using this algorithm, the number of multiplications for computing 16 moments of a 512x512 image is reduced by 6 orders of magnitude compared to the direct implementation. This also makes the software implementation extremely faster. Using the chip, 16 moments mu(p,q) (p=0,1,2,3 q=0,1,2,3) of a 512x512 8 bits/pixel image can be calculated in real-time (i.e. 30 frames per second). Each moment value is computed as a 64-bit integer. The basic building block of the algorithm is a single-pole digital filter implemented with a simple accumulator. These filters are cascaded together in both horizontal and vertical directions in a highly regular structure which makes it very suitable for VLSI implementation. The chip has been implemented in 2.5 micron CMOS technology, it occupies 6100microns x 6100microns of silicon area. The chip can also be used as a general cell for implementing 2D transforms having polynomial basis functions.