Real-Time Continuous Image Registration Enabling Ultraprecise 2-D Motion Tracking

• Published in: IEEE transactions on image processing Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 2081 - 2090
• Main Authors: PENG CHENG, MENQ, Chia-Hsiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.05.2013; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bias; Computational efficiency; Correlation; Detection, estimation, filtering, equalization, prediction; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform; Image processing; Image registration; Image resolution; Information, signal and communications theory; Interpolation; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Microscopy; motion measurement; nanometers; Noise; Real time; Real-time systems; Sensors; Signal and communications theory; Signal processing; Signal, noise; Studies; Telecommunications and information theory; Tracking; Performance evaluation; Image registration; Target tracking; Fourier transformation; Moving target; Image processing; Computer simulation; motion measurement; Fourier transform; nanometers; Frame rate; Implementation; Image method; Reference model; Computation time; Displacement measurement; Signal processing; Motion detection; Real time processing; Motion control
• ISSN: 1057-7149; 1941-0042
• DOI: 10.1109/TIP.2013.2244608

In this paper, we present a novel continuous image registration method (CIRM), which yields near-zero bias and has high computational efficiency. It can be realized for real-time position estimation to enable ultraprecise 2-D motion tracking and motion control over a large motion range. As the two variables of the method are continuous in spatial domain, pixel-level image registration is unnecessary, thus the CIRM can continuously track the moving target according to the incoming target image. When applied to a specific target object, measurement resolution of the method is predicted according to the reference image model of the object along with the variance of the camera's overall image noise. The maximum permissible target speed is proportional to the permissible frame rate, which is limited by the required computational time. The precision, measurement resolution, and computational efficiency of the method are verified through computer simulations and experiments. Specifically, the CIRM is implemented and integrated with a visual sensing system. Near-zero bias, measurement resolution of 0.1 nm (0.0008 pixels), and measurement of one nanometer stepping are demonstrated.