Simplified Representation of Image Contour

We use edge detection technique for the input image to extract the entire edges of the object in the image and then select only the edges that construct the outline of the object. By examining the positional relation between these pixels composing the outline, a simplified version of the outline of the object in the input image is generated by removing unnecessary pixels while maintaining the condition of connection of the outline. For each pixel constituting the outline, its direction is calculated by examining the positional relation with the next pixel. Then, we group the consecutive pixels with same direction into one and then change them to a line segment instead of a point. Among those line segments composing the outline of the object, a line segment whose length is smaller than a predefined minimum length of acceptable line segment is removed by merging it into one of the adjacent line segments. As a result, an outline composed of line segments of over a certain length is obtained through this process.