FindLine

Locates a single straight-line edge within an image region. FindLine forms a one-dimensional projection of the image region by summing pixel values on radial line segments scanned in the positive y-direction relative to the region's local coordinate system. Edge transitions are extracted from the projected image data.

FindLine Inputs

Parameter

Description

Image

This parameter must reference a spreadsheet cell that contains an Image data structure; by default, this parameter references A0, the cell containing the AcquireImage data structure. This parameter can also reference other Image data structures, such as those returned by the Image Vision Data Access Functions or Coordinate Transforms Functions.

Fixture

Defines the Region of Interest (ROI) relative to a Fixture input or the output of a Vision Tools function's image coordinate system. Setting the ROI relative to a Fixture ensures that if the Fixture is rotated or translated, the ROI will be rotated or translated in relation to the Fixture.

The default setting is (0,0,0), the top leftmost corner of the image.

X	The X offset, in image coordinates.
Y	The Y offset, in image coordinates.
Theta	The rotation from the image X axis, in the image coordinate system. (+/-360 degrees clockwise)

Region

Also known as the Region of Interest (ROI), specifies the region of the image that undergoes analysis; creates an Interactive Graphics Mode that can be transformed and rotated. With this parameter selected, by pressing the Maximize Region button on the property sheet's Job Edit toolbar, the region will automatically be stretched to cover the entire image.

X	The x-offset of the origin, in fixture coordinates.
Y	The y-offset of the origin, in fixture coordinates.
Width	The dimension along the region's x-axis.
Height	The dimension along the region's y-axis.
Angle	The orientation, in fixture coordinates.
Curve	The angular deviation between the region's x-axis and the opposing boundary line.

Note: The Fixture and Region parameters must be defined within the bounds of the image; otherwise, the function will return #ERR.

Polarity

Specifies the polarity of the edge to be located, relative to the scan direction of the Edge Region; the function will only report edges of the specified polarity.

Note: When using a horizontal or vertical linear edge feature as a fixture input, the function will only account for the movement of the edge in one direction, either along the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the position of the scan direction of the ROI.

0 = black-to-white	Specifies that the edge polarity is black-to-white.
1 = white-to-black	Specifies that the edge polarity is white-to-black.
2 = either (default)	Specifies that the edge polarity could be either black-to-white or white-to-black.

Find By

Specifies the edge selection technique the function will use to select an edge, amongst multiple edge candidates.

0 = best score (default)	Specifies that the edge with the highest score receives the highest consideration.
1 = first edge	Specifies that the first edge detected receives the highest consideration.
2 = last edge	Specifies that the last edge detected receives the highest consideration.

Accept Thresh

Specifies the minimum acceptable edge contrast (0 to 100; default = 25); the contrast value is normalized from the greyscale histogram within the Region to a scale of 0 to 100. The function will reject any edge whose contrast score falls below this value.

Normalize Score

Specifies whether the edge scores will be normalized by the greyscale histogram of the Region. When Normalize Score is enabled, raw edge scores are normalized by the maximum contrast found within the image region using the following formula:

Score = (Raw Edge Score) x (100/Max Contrast)

Where Raw Edge Score is the grey level difference across the edge and Max Contrast is the difference between the maximum and minimum grey level (0 to 255) within the image region.

When Normalize Score is disabled, low contrast edges will score lower than high contrast edges. The following formula is used:

Score = (Raw Edge Score) x (100/255)

0 = OFF	Do not normalize the score.
1 = ON (default)	Normalize the score.

Tip: This parameter is useful for finding edges in a low contrast region. If the edges to be detected are expected to be only high contrast, disable this parameter.

Angle Range

Specifies the function's tolerance to edge rotation (0 to 10; default = 0). The function will still find edges that are outside of the specified range, but the accuracy may not be as high.

Note: Setting this parameter to a value greater than 0 will reduce the speed of the function.

Edge Width

Specifies the pixel distance (1 to 50; default = 3) over which an edge transition takes place. Edge Width is used to filter the image before edges are extracted.

Show

Specifies the display mode for FindLine graphical overlays on top of the image.

0 = hide all (default)	All graphics will be hidden, except when the cell containing the FindLine function is the active cell in the spreadsheet.
1 = result graphics only	The line edge will be displayed at all times.
2 = input and result graphics	Both the input image region and the line edge will be displayed at all times.
3 = show all: input, result, and chart	The input image region, the line edge, and the edge response chart will be displayed at all times. Note: The edge response chart is a dockable window. For more information, see the Spreadsheet Editor – Charts topic.

FindLine Outputs

Returns

An Edge data structure containing a single straight-line edge segment, or #ERR if any of the input parameters are invalid.

Results

When FindLine is initially inserted into a cell, a result table is created in the spreadsheet.

The following Edges Vision Data Access Functions are automatically inserted into the spreadsheet to create the result table:

Label	Function	Description
X0	GetX(Edges,0,0)	The row coordinate of the first endpoint.
Y0	GetY(Edges,0,0)	The column coordinate of the first endpoint.
X1	GetX(Edges,0,1)	The row coordinate of the second endpoint.
Y1	GetY(Edges,0,1)	The column coordinate of the second endpoint.
Score	GetScore(Edges,0)	The edge contrast score. Score is positive for black-to-white transitions, negative for white-to-black transitions.