Mesh of Linear Arrays for Template Matching

This paper presents the architecture and the implementation of template matching on a 3-D piece-wise regular processor space that forms a two-dimensional array of linear systolic arrays. Template matching can be considered as a 2-D convolution of an image of sizeN × Nwith a kernel of sizer× r. Conventional high-speed implementations use 2-D systolic arrays of sizeO(r2) which compute inO(N2) time. The drawback of this solution is that the size of the processor array follows on the size of the convolution kernel. This does not permit the allocation of more processors in order to meet the real-time requirements. With the approach used in this paper, the size of the processor array may be extended up toO(sr2), 1 ?s?N, thereby accomplishing the calculations inO(N2/s) time. In the case whens=r, ther × rmesh of 1-D systolic arrays of sizeO(r) is yielded. The piecewise regularity of the 3-D processor array allows also easy physical realization.