Patent Document ID: 9183461
Application ID: 13976794
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for use in image processing, comprising: an image processor comprising: a basic match cost logic unit configured to determine, for a given set of disparities d, a basic match cost C(P,d) at each pixel P between a pair of stereo images input for processing; an east orientation cost logic unit configured to determine a match cost C East (P,d) for each pixel P based on corresponding determined basic match costs C(P,d), wherein match cost C East (P,d) incorporates data associated with a pixel located to the east of pixel P; one or more additional orientation cost logic units configured to determine one or more additional match costs for each pixel P, the one or more additional match costs incorporating data associated with pixels at one or more other directional orientations from a perspective of pixel P; and a disparity logic unit configured to: determine an overall match cost for each pixel P at each of disparities d based on a sum of the determined match costs for all considered orientations for each pixel and disparity pair; and determine a resulting disparity for each pixel P based on a minimum of the determined overall match costs, wherein a subset of the determined resulting disparities becomes available prior to completion of the input images being read in, and wherein the resulting disparities for all pixels of the stereo images are determined in a single pass through the input images; and a memory, in communication with the image processor, that is used to store necessary data in the determination of the match costs and resulting disparities.