Fundamentals of electronic imaging systems

Image processing is an applications area. In this area there are many op portunities to apply art and experience, as well as knowledge from various sciences and engineering disciplines, to the creation of products and pro cesses for which society has urgent need. Without this need, few would be interested in the subject. This point of view motivates this work and has influenced the selection and treatment of topics. It will be noticed that the word „digital“ is not in the title. While much of present-day image processing is implemented digitally, this work is not intended for those who think that image processing is a branch of digital signal processing, except perhaps to try to change their minds. This book grew out of courses taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by the author and two of his former students, T. S. Huang and O. J. Tretiak. Like the courses, it is primarily intended for electrical engineers and computer scientists who plan to work in the field. It has not proven necessary to spend much time on strictly digital issues, since the students either know that material already or can learn it very easily by 1 themselves. It also has been unnecessary to be encyclopedic, since Pratt has already performed this important service.