Preprocessing and Segmentation Algorithm for Multiple Overlapped Fiber Image

In the fiber image recognition system, pinpoint segmentation is critical for fiber feature extraction and further identification. In the case of fiber image taken by the optical microscope, the overlapped types are complicate which deteriorates the accuracy of segmentation. In order to get the concise and clear fiber contour curve for later process, a pretreatment method combined the curve fitting and complex domain filtering is designed in this paper. A novel technology for the concave points matching is also applied to the segmentation. The essence of the segmentation is to construct a virtual fiber boundary on the fiber contour which is obtained though the fiber image preprocessing approach presented in this article, the virtual boundary will connect the concave points to be matched so that the overlapped fibers are separated into independent individuals. Whether or not the virtual boundary is successfully restored is judged by the triangular area consisted of a given concave point, its precursor point (or subsequent point) and the target point, as well as the characteristic relationship between concave points in the bounded closed corners set of the fiber contour curves. The experimental result shows that the overlapped fibers can be segmented without changing any morphological parameter, and the fiber segmentation approach is suitable for complex scenes such as fiber adhesion or cross with each other and has a high segmentation accuracy.