Colour image segmentation algorithm in vectoral approach for automated optical inspection in electronics

This paper presents the robust colour image segmentation algorithm which can be used extensively in automated optical inspection system on the printed circuits boards (PCB) assembly line. The robustness of the presented algorithm is increased by low computational effort what dedicates this approach to on-line vision systems explored in high-speed production lines. The second advantage of the proposed algorithm is the non-parametric solution which is invariant to changes of light and colour of the inspected components. This condition should be fulfilled with the vectoral imaging approach where the most important task is the segmentation process which divides image space into disjoint regions with similar colour or texture.