Glossary · Machine vision
Image processing
Also known as: Digital image processing, Image analysis
German: Bildverarbeitung
In machine vision and computing, image processing is the computational treatment of digital images to enhance them or extract information, such as positions, dimensions, codes, text or defects; in industrial use it is the software core of machine vision.
- Machine vision
In one sentence
Image processing is the computational treatment of digital images to enhance them or extract information such as positions and defects.
Example
The image processing software locates the part, measures three bore diameters and reads the serial number from one image.
How it applies
- Engineering: Industrial image processing combines classical tools (filters, edges, blobs, pattern matching) with machine learning. Tool choice depends on the variability of parts and defects.
- Operation: Results are passed to the machine control as pass/fail, measurements or coordinates; the interface must define how errors and timeouts are reported.
- Documentation: The documentation team should document the processing steps, parameters and versions of the vision program, and the interface to the control system. In German, Bildverarbeitung covers both the general discipline and industrial machine vision; the English terms differ.
Image processing vs. machine vision
Image processing is the computational part. Machine vision is the complete application in industry: lighting, optics, camera, processing and the integration into the machine.