FindMultiLine

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

Inputs

Parameter

Description

Image

This parameter must reference a spreadsheet cell that contains an Image data structure. By default, this parameter references cell A0 , containing the AcquireImage function Functions are tools that are available in Spreadsheet for processing and analyzing acquisitions or other results. You can add functions to your Spreadsheet job to create tool chains and produce results for specific applications.. 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 A fixture is a coordinate location on the image that keeps the tool in the place determined by the fixture.

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

Note: 2D projections use real world units but fixturing with 2D tools requires input in pixel values. When using a 2D projection from a 3D point cloud A point cloud is a 3D structure that consists of the data points collected by a 3D vision system during acquisition. as a Fixture, convert the real world units to pixel values using the TransWorldToPixel function.

Note: Angles must be multiplied by -1, due to image space differences.

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. Double-click on the Region parameter to create an Interactive Graphics Mode that you can transform and rotate. Select this parameter and press the Maximize Region button under Edit in the property sheet toolbar to automatically stretch the region 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 X-axis of the region.
Height	The dimension along the Y-axis of the region.
Angle	The orientation, in fixture coordinates.
Curve	The angular deviation between the x-axis and the opposing boundary line of the region.

Note: The Region parameter must be defined within the bounds of the image. Otherwise, the function returns #ERR. The Fixture parameter does not need to be within the bounds of the image.

Number to Find

Specifies the maximum number of edges the function will return (1 to image width, minus 1; default = 3). The maximum number of edges that may be detected is one less than the width of the image.

Threshold B2W

Specifies the minimum acceptable black-to-white edge contrast score (0 to 100; default = 25). FindMultiLine will reject any black-to-white edges whose contrast score falls below Threshold B2W. Edge contrast is normalized by the greyscale histogram A histogram is a graphical representation of the distribution of pixel intensity values. A histogram refers to an array of pixels - how many and their individual greyscale values - within a region of interest (ROI). of the scan region.

Threshold W2B

Specifies the minimum acceptable white-to-black edge contrast score (0 to 100 default = 25). FindMultiLine will reject any white-to-black edges whose contrast score falls below Threshold W2B. Edge contrast is normalized by the greyscale histogram of the scan region.

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.

Note: 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.

Find By

Specifies the edge selection technique the function uses 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.

Angle Range

Specifies the tolerance of the function to edge rotation (0 to 10; default = 0). The function still finds 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 reduces 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 FindMultiLine graphical overlays on top of the image.

0 = hide all (default)	All graphics are hidden, except when the cell containing the FindMultiLine function is the active cell in the spreadsheet.
1 = result graphics only	The found line edges are displayed at all times.
2 = input and result graphics	Both the input image region and the found line edges are displayed at all times.
3 = show all: input, result, and chart	The input image region, the found line edges, and the response chart of the edges are displayed at all times.

Outputs

Returns

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

Results

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

One Edges Vision Data Access functions is automatically inserted into the spreadsheet to create the result table:

Label	Function	Description
NFound	GetNFound(Edges)	NFound is the number of edges found.

Additional data elements can be accessed using Edges Vision Data Access functions.