Patent ID: 6175665
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
An image inquiry apparatus comprising:a plurality of unit inquiry circuits arranged in a matrix of m rows and r stages (each of m and r is an integer more than 1), wherein said plurality of unit inquiry circuits are generally connected in series in rows, except for said unit inquiry circuits of i-th row and (i+1)-th stage (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.a smaller one of m and r, and i is an integer), and wherein inputs of said unit inquiry circuits of i-th rows and (i+1)-th stages are respectively connected to inputs of said unit inquiry circuits of i-th row and i-th stage, and wherein each of said plurality of unit inquiry circuits comprises a plurality of pixel processing circuits connected in series, and outputs a calculation data corresponding to a difference between a reference pixel and a retrieval object pixel which are both held therein; andr summing circuits respectively provided, one for each said r stage of said matrix, wherein each of said r summing circuits sums said calculation data supplied from said pixel processing circuits in the corresponding stage to output the summing result.